how to get my username from command shell

jlliagre · 06-05-2007, 06:58 AM

USER doesn't keep the login username after "su -":

Code:

-bash-2.05b$ who am i
jlliagre console      Jun  5 07:55         
-bash-2.05b$ cat /etc/redhat-release 
CentOS release 3.7 (Final)
-bash-2.05b$ echo $USER
jlliagre
-bash-2.05b$ su -
-bash-2.05b# who am i
jlliagre console      Jun  5 07:55         
-bash-2.05b# echo $USER
root

helptonewbie · 06-05-2007, 07:00 AM

thats very strange it has for me??

i think let me just double check on that

helptonewbie · 06-05-2007, 07:04 AM

thats interesting if i use "su" i can use the $USER and it will stay as origional user, if i "su -" then use $USER it will change to root. And if i kdesu like i am now i guess it must keep origional user as well because my script works properly so it must keep $USER as origional, you try it with "su" and not "su -"

let me know

jlliagre · 06-05-2007, 04:04 PM

"su -" is clearing all the environment variables by design and setting some of them like USER.

"info su" will tell you.

helptonewbie · 06-05-2007, 04:15 PM

thanks for that, it is interesting.

Thanks for everything everyone STARS

doc.nice · 10-12-2007, 04:51 AM

this variable is set by bash, so if you use #!/bin/bash as first line of your script, everything should be fine. see "man bash" for other builtin variables...