Lost path when su'ing to root from user GUI terminal

arashi256 · 01-08-2008, 09:09 AM

Usually, I log in to my Linux box with a user account in GNOME. However, when I su to root from a terminal window, I don't get the path to many of the standard command directories like /sbin and such. My /etc/profile seems to be saying that unless you actually initially login as root (which I assume is what the "EUID = 0" bit means), you won't get certain directories in your path: -

# Path manipulation
if [ "EUID" = "0"]; then
pathmunge /sbin
pathmunge /usr/bin
pathmunge /usr/local/sbin
fi

How can I execute stuff from a user GUI terminal window when su'ing to root, not having to fully login as root to start with? And should I be doing this in the first place?

Emerson · 01-08-2008, 10:28 AM

To get root rights with root environment: su -
To get another user rights with his/her environment: su - anotheruser

PTrenholme · 01-08-2008, 10:29 AM

Have you consider looking at man su to see the command line parameters? Or even a

Code:

$ su --help
Usage: su [OPTION]... [-] [USER [ARG]...]
Change the effective user id and group id to that of USER.

  -, -l, --login               make the shell a login shell
  -c, --command=COMMAND        pass a single COMMAND to the shell with -c
  --session-command=COMMAND    pass a single COMMAND to the shell with -c
                               and do not create a new session
  -f, --fast                   pass -f to the shell (for csh or tcsh)
  -m, --preserve-environment   do not reset environment variables
  -p                           same as -m
  -s, --shell=SHELL            run SHELL if /etc/shells allows it
      --help     display this help and exit
      --version  output version information and exit

A mere - implies -l.   If USER not given, assume root.

Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

Of course the brief --help output above assumes that you understand that a "login shell" means that the shell is started as though it was a de novo login.

Bottom line: Try su - instead of a simple su.

arashi256 · 01-08-2008, 10:30 AM

Ah, thanks very much!

arashi256 · 01-08-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTrenholme

Have you consider looking at man su to see the command line parameters? Or even a[code]$ su --help

I would have if I'd known that the problem was with my usage of the su command and not something else altogether. As far as I was concerned, it could have been anything. Thanks, though - sorted now.