Dev1 Galaxy Forum / how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (rolfie) — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 08:51:17 +0000

I have created my own root terminal according to this description: https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=2717. This ends up in /root as working directory. The example is for Mate, but it also works with Cinnamon/Gnome terminal.

I guess you can easily set the path to /.

rolfie

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (GlennW) — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:18:18 +0000

Hi, I wanted to do this because I don't have sudo enabled and I use su a lot, packaging updates... checking net and kernel logs and such.

I do it a lot and it was just something I thought I could do with my systems, laptop and desktops that would streamline the process for me.

I am very grateful to this community for all the support I get when I can't find a solution to a hack I want to implement.
I don't know much (anything, ... no motive) about real hacking) but try to keep my system as secure as possible and stay current as possible.

But this is mostly because I have disabled sudo that I use su so frequently.

Thank you again (I'll read that link now ...GNU...)

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 13:57:54 +0000

Hello:

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

http://harmful.cat-v.org/software/GNU/

Yes, I know ...

But old habits die hard, very. 8^/

But thanks for the heads up.
Eventually, I guess.

Best,

BTW:
I see a chap by the name of Andy Tanenbaum has an entry there.
I have not ever been around Unix and have only 10 years or so in Linux.

But reading the page made me wonder: Is this Tanenbaum (genetically or otherwise) related to systemd's Poettering?
Just curious ...

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Head_on_a_Stick) — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 08:25:42 +0000

http://harmful.cat-v.org/software/GNU/

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (andyprough) — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 04:02:44 +0000

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

andyprough wrote:
Ain't Linux great!?!
Meh.

But the author didn't say GNU/Linux sucks. I think they're just referring to systemd/Linux sucking.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (GlennW) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:27:43 +0000

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

andyprough wrote:
Ain't Linux great!?!
Meh.

I'm loving it! Thanks again, see you 'round the posts.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (GlennW) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:12:13 +0000

I know, right. :-)

Thank you for your advise, I got it working.

I added the cd / to /root/.profile
and used

source /root/.profile

but that didn't work, then I tried again with su - and it works.

So, I went back into my ~/.bashrc and uncommented my alias

alias su='su -'

and now it's working.

This box is fully-updated devuan_chimaera_4.0.a

Thank you everybody.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Head_on_a_Stick) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:02:06 +0000

andyprough wrote:

Ain't Linux great!?!

Meh.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (andyprough) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 18:18:41 +0000

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Or add this line to /root/.profile:
cd /
But you would have to call su - to ensure that the file is read.

So many different ways to avoid simply typing "cd /" each time. Ain't Linux great!?!

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Head_on_a_Stick) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 17:20:10 +0000

Or add this line to /root/.profile:

cd /

But you would have to call su - to ensure that the file is read.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (berni51) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 17:05:42 +0000

Why not simply use a mini script which only contains one line: cd / && su
Calling that script will bring you to / as root.

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 15:49:18 +0000

Hello:

GlennW wrote:

No, that's what I have to do.

I see.

So ...
You want to do su - and be sent directly to / without the cd / bit.
Sorry, it seems that I've reached my pay grade limit. 8^|

GlennW wrote:

... thank you for trying ...

You're welcome.

Best,

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (GlennW) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 15:34:54 +0000

No, that's what I have to do. But thank you for trying to help me.

Because it's a one user system I only have to cd {enter} to get to /

I was looking or a shorter short cut. :-)

Cheers

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 13:28:25 +0000

Hello:

GlennW wrote:

glenn@GamesBox ~ $ cat /etc/default/su
ALWAYS_SET_PATH yes
glenn@GamesBox ~ $

Right ...
Now, open the terminal and do ...

~ $ su -

That should get you to /root.

And from there you can cd / to /.

Is that what you meant to do?

Best,

Re: how do I set the default directory to / when I use su?

dummy@example.com (GlennW) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 11:10:42 +0000

glenn@GamesBox ~ $ cat /etc/default/su
ALWAYS_SET_PATH yes
glenn@GamesBox ~ $

Thank you, but the PATH is not the problem, it's just the look and being in the user directory when I have su'd to root.

I've been looking and hacking the .bashrc file, /etc/profile and /etc/bash.bashrc files and I was mistaken thinking the /w in PS1 may have been the key, but that's not it either.

w.i.p.

Thanks again. regards Glenn