script to empty /tmp folder

capnp72 · 02-14-2006, 11:51 AM

I'm using SUSE 10 with gnome desktop. I would like to write a sript to empty the /tmp folder when I log out. How do I write the script?

Dudydoo · 02-14-2006, 02:23 PM

Add this to your ~/bash_logout file.

Code:

rm -rf /tmp/* 2>& /dev/null

capnp72 · 02-14-2006, 04:52 PM

I did what you said. I put that line into the file you specified but it's deleting all the files in the /tmp folder.

ckoniecny · 02-14-2006, 05:42 PM

When you reboot your machine, the /tmp directory is wipped out (If that helps at all).

Tinkster · 02-14-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnp72

I did what you said. I put that line into the file you specified but it's deleting all the files in the /tmp folder.

That's exactly what you asked for?! How come you're
surprised?

Cheers,
Tink

capnp72 · 02-15-2006, 07:40 AM

I left a word out of my sentence. What I meant to say is: The script is not deleting the files that need root to access.

ckoniecny · 02-15-2006, 08:34 AM

You can look into using "sudo". Add this entry to your /etc/sudoers file:

Code:

username     ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWORD: ALL

Then you can run the command

Code:

sudo rm -rf /tmp/* 2>& /dev/null

which will you give you root privileges for that command.

Tinkster · 02-15-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckoniecny

You can look into using "sudo". Add this entry to your /etc/sudoers file:

Code:

username     ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWORD: ALL

That's about as "safe" as logging in as root...

Code:

Cmnd_Alias POWEROFF = /sbin/poweroff
Cmnd_Alias REBOOT = /sbin/reboot
Cmnd_Alias CHKIN = /usr/local/sbin/checkinstall
Cmnd_Alias VPN = /sbin/vpn

tink  diggn = NOPASSWD: VPN, CHKIN, POWEROFF, REBOOT, HALT, /sbin/removepkg, /sbin/installpkg, /usr/sbin/adduser,  /sbin/ifconfig, rm -rf /tmp/*

Much more sane...

Cheers,
Tink

haertig · 02-15-2006, 12:50 PM

Why do you want to delete files from /tmp that don't belong to you? You could negatively affect other users or applications by doing this. The reason you cannot delete files that you don't own from /tmp, despite /tmp's permissions of 777, is because the sticky bit is set on the directory. root can obviously delete them, hence the suggestions for using sudo, but I'm not sure it's adviseable to trigger this cleanup when a single (normal) user logs off.