topic Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right in Operating System - HP-UX

Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Jayson Hurd_2 — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:50:31 GMT

I have a command that I run in UNIX as a user called "cognos":

$ /jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/configcp -t /jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/start.ccp

It runs as it should.

When I run it this way logged in as root:

su -cognos -c "/jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/configcp -t /jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/start.ccp"

It gives me errors that certain files can't be found. Does this -c actually invoke the cognos user's profile? It seems paths aren't being established, or that it's using root's path, etc....

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Jeff Schussele — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:53:38 GMT

HI Jayson,

No, the dash between su & username sources the user's environment.
But there MUST be spaces on both sides.

Rgds,
Jeff

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Geoff Wild — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:54:37 GMT

Sounds like the env isn't loading....

Try this:

su -cognos
env

then

su -cognos -c env

Different?

Rgds...Geoff

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Geoff Wild — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:59:10 GMT

Try doing it like this:

su - cognos -i -c "/jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/configcp -t /jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/start.ccp"

That will run the shell in interactive mode.

Rgds...Geoff

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Dwyane Everts_1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:59:56 GMT

Jayson,

Try this:

su - cognos -c '/jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/configcp -t /jv77/cognos/cer3/bin/start.ccp'

Note the spacing and 'quote' change.

D

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Dave La Mar — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:39:52 GMT

Jayson -
This is a very common problem. As others mentioned, most often it involves env variables.
In out shop we are accustomed to place exports of the required environment variables in the script to be executed.
Having done this, we seldom encounter any errors.
Yes, this means acouple of export XXX="YYY" in your script to execute, but it sure relieves some headaches.

Regards,

dl

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Jayson Hurd_2 — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:55:03 GMT

If I put it on separate lines, it just comes back to the prompt and then stops. The script halts, essentially...

Re: Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

Michael Schulte zur Sur — Fri, 12 Dec 2003 16:09:24 GMT

Hi,

what wonders me is, it should have complained about an invalid option since there is no space after the -. Probably he does interpret this as additional command and tries to run it as root. If you put a command on two lines, you will have to use a continuation character, so the two lines will be interpreted as one and I think it is the \, you will have to use at the end of line one. But still the su - cognos should work. It will read the .profile and execute the command.

greetings,

Michael