Re: login, path and ~/.profile

From: Jan T. Kim (jtk_at_cmp.uea.ac.uk)
Date: 09/30/05

  • Next message: Jan T. Kim: "Re: login, path and ~/.profile" 
    Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:02:23 +0100
To: Debian Linux Distro Users Discussion <debian-user@lists.debian.org>

    On Fri, Sep 30, 2005 at 08:50:05AM +0200, Benedict Verheyen wrote:
    > Hi,
    >
    > i was looking to change the prompt of a UML and while i was at it i
    > noticed something in regards to the path that is set.
    > When logging in these files are processed (used echo to find out)
    > /etc/profile
    > /etc/bash.bashrc
    > ~/.bash_profile
    > ~/.bashrc
    >
    > This might differ on your system as I:
    > * source /etc/bash.bashrc from /etc/profile
    > * source ~/.bashrc from ~/.bash_profile
    >
    > When doing su, these files are executed
    > /etc/bash.bashrc
    > ~/.bashrc
    >
    > As for my questions:
    > 1. Why isn't ~/.profile run?

    The su command does not launch a login shell, and the login scripts
    (/etc/profile and ~/.profile) are only executed by a login shell. That's
    the difference between the two.

    To get a root login shell, use

        su -

    > 2. I'm setting up an UML that i debootstrapped so root is the only way
    > to log on for the moment. When i apt-get i get errors in the end because
    > the /bin /sbin paths aren't set so certain tools aren't found.
    > Is it better to leave the path like this security wise or should i just
    > add the /bin and /sbin directories?
    > The ~/.profile file contains a decent PATH but as this file doesn't seem
    > to get executed, the path isn't set.

    I don't have any experience with UML (and I just guess you mean "User
    Mode Linux", rather than "Unified Modelling Language"), but, at any rate,
    simply "su -" should get you the standard root PATH and other environment
    settings.

    Best regards, Jan 

    -- 
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