problem with history..

[M. Z. Harbi]

Hi all,

my problem is when I enter as a root, I can't recall history (Esc + k). when I type "history" the output is as bellow:

"sh: fc: Cannot access or open the history file"

but, when I login as another user, it works fine..

can anyone help me with this...?

thanks

[Pete Randall]

You first need to export the HISTFILE variable. For example, this is what we use:

HISTFILE=/tmp/.sh_history.$(whoami)

Then make sure you've done "set -o vi" and that should do it.


Pete

[Umapathy S]

Harbi,
For root the shell is /sbin/sh. History details are only available with Korn/C shells.

HTH,
Umapathy

[T G Manikandan]

HISTFILE=$HOME/.sh_history

[Pete Randall]

And - don't forget to export HISTFILE!!!


Pete

[Umapathy S]

Oops. I am very sorry for my incomplete reply.

-Umapathy

[Robert-Jan Goossens · Accepted solution]

HISTFILE=/.sh_history
HISTSIZE=250
export HISTFILE HISTSIZE

Robert-Jan.

[Robert A. Pierce]

Harbi,


If you run

su root

then you won't have a history file, but if you

su - root

then you will have a history file (if one is set in your /.profile).

[Steven E. Protter]

There is almost no reason why all users should have a HISTFILE.

It help track operator mistakes, all kinds of good things.

I do it in /etc/profile

HISTFILE=$HOME/.sh_history
HISTSIZE=5000

I know this is similar to other answers, but this is how I do it.

I have had users who were trying to cover their tracks or hide mistakes try and turn it off in their .profile so thats another reason to make it mandatory. To date no applications have been broken by this policy.

SEP

[Robert A. Pierce]

Steven,

Good point.

If you have a role account with several users logging in with the same ID, you can keep track of the different histories with something like this:

HDAT=$(date +%y%m%d.%I%M%S)
HWHO=$(who am I -R | /awkc 6)
HTTY=$(tty | tr "/" " "|awk '{ print $NF }')
export HISTFILE=/home/roleacct/.hist/$HDAT.$HTTY.$$.$HWHO.log

This gives you the history files separated by login date, time, tty, process, and hostname/IP address.

Rob