topic Re: scripts loosing the environment in Operating System - Linux

scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:42:55 GMT

Hi

We have several boxes mostly(11.11) where the helpdesk users see a menu when they log in.

The main scriptA check the user, exports the variables etc. This calls another scriptB which displays the menu. Script B then calls whichever script is needed depending upon the menu selection.

On a new machine however (11.23) when scriptB calls the final script the last script has lost the variables.

I have an echo at each point in the scripts the variables are set correctly in Script A and Script B, but get lost at the 3rd level

What is happeneing?

Regards

Mark

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Steven Schweda — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:59:57 GMT

I have a script which doesn't work. What's
wrong with it?

Re: scripts loosing the environment

James R. Ferguson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:11:34 GMT

Hi Mark:

So, was the new machine established with an identical configuration as far as scripts, directories, permissions and ownerships?

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:53:33 GMT

Steven

The script works fine on other machines thanks.... :-/ I was wondering whether something in 11.23 only carries variables down so many new shells are something silly like that.

James

Yes the scripts / directories are the same.

Regards

Mark

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Yogeeraj_1 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:09:14 GMT

hi,

can you post an extract from your script so that we get a clearer picture?

revert!

kind regards
yogeeraj

Re: scripts loosing the environment

James R. Ferguson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:18:09 GMT

Hi (again) Mark:

> I was wondering whether something in 11.23 only carries variables down so many new shells are something silly like that.

I don't think that this has anything to due intrinsically with 11.11 vs. 11.23, but rather something with configuration.

> Yes the scripts / directories are the same.

Same permissions and ownerships? Same permissions and ownerships of parent directories (all the way up)?

> On a new machine however (11.23) when scriptB calls the final script the last script has lost the variables.

Does scriptB export what the final script will need?

Do you launch the menu script from a '.profile' or do you define it as the shell program in '/etc/passwd'? Is this done the same on all systems?

Lastly, if you a performing any 'su' commands, compare your '/etc/default/security' settings on your servers. In particular, look at settings like 'SU_KEEP_ENV_VARS', 'SU_ROOT_GROUP' and 'SU_DEFAULT_PATH'.

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:31:31 GMT

Hmmm

This is hashed on the box that doesnt work

# Force su to propagate specified unsafe
# environment variables.
# SU_KEEP_ENV_VARS=HOME,SHLIB_PATH

ill have a check around the working boxes.

Thanks

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:37:57 GMT

The variable in question is MR_LIB_DIR so this would not be stopped by the security file.

the final script is kicked off via sudo though so I think we are along the right lines.

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:49:56 GMT

also - the script is launched from .profile

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:29:48 GMT

Found it.....

This line was missing in the sudoers
Defaults env_keep+="*"

Thanks

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Steven Schweda — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:50:25 GMT

> the final script is kicked off via sudo [...]

Doh! Why didn't I realize that immediately?
I'm such a dope sometimes.

Re: scripts loosing the environment

Mark McDonald_2 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:51:39 GMT

-> I'm such a dope sometimes.

You are....