Command run under 'su' doesn't work right

[Jayson Hurd_2]

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....

[Jeff Schussele · Accepted solution]

HI Jayson,

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

Rgds,
Jeff

[Geoff Wild]

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

Try this:

su -cognos
env

then

su -cognos -c env

Different?


Rgds...Geoff

[Geoff Wild]

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

[Dwyane Everts_1]

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

[Dave La Mar]

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

[Jayson Hurd_2]

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

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

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