Bug 564 - Linuxconf can't be used as Installation Guide suggests
Summary: Linuxconf can't be used as Installation Guide suggests
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Linux
Classification: Retired
Component: linuxconf
Version: 5.2
Hardware: i386
OS: Linux
medium
medium
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Michael K. Johnson
QA Contact:
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 1998-12-22 23:24 UTC by Chris Evans
Modified: 2008-05-01 15:37 UTC (History)
0 users

Fixed In Version:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 1999-03-18 22:15:50 UTC
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Chris Evans 1998-12-22 23:24:05 UTC
In the installation guide, running "linuxconf" is explained
from running both as root and non-root.
If you run as non-root, you are supposed to be able to enter
the root password to start.
Unfortunately running as non-root is not possible; the
linuxconf binary itself has far too restrictive permissions!

A discrepancy between documentation and reality like this is
_not_ good for newbies.

Finally note that the "run as non-root then enter root
password" mode may be disabled for (very valid) security
reasons.

Comment 1 Jay Turner 1998-12-30 22:41:59 UTC
I have verified this to be true. Running linuxconf as a normal user as
stated by the User's Guide fails complaining of permission denied. A
list in of the linuxconf binary produces

-rwx------  1  root  root  789024  Oct 12  linuxconf

Comment 2 Jay Turner 1998-12-30 22:42:59 UTC
I have verified this to be true. Running linuxconf as a normal user as
stated by the User's Guide fails complaining of permission denied. A
list in of the linuxconf binary produces

-rwx------  1  root  root  789024  Oct 12  linuxconf

Comment 3 Michael K. Johnson 1999-03-18 22:15:59 UTC
This is an intentional attempt on our part to avoid security holes.
I will report this to the documentation department.


Note You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.