On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 5:23 PM, Cameron Simpson <[email protected]> wrote: > > <snip> > > When you start using "su" you have some pitfalls to consider. Many > programs rely on the $HOME environment variable to decide where > files should go. If you use "su user2" instead of "su - user2" then > $HOME will probably be user1's home directory. Chaos ensues.
The manual maintained at GNU.org is fairly clear that $HOME is set, so chaos should be avoided. I copied what is relevant below: ---- <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/su-invocation.html> "By default, su does not change the current directory. It sets the environment variables HOME and SHELL from the password entry for user, and if user is not the super-user, sets USER and LOGNAME to user. By default, the shell is not a login shell." ---- Do you use a different su? If not, give it a try. Open a terminal and switch to a new user with just 'su user', then after password entry type "echo $HOME". It should return the home directory of whatever user you specified. For the record, I am not saying don't use "-" or "-l" as appropriate with su. I am also not suggesting appropriate use of the su program, as that is at the discretion of a given system administrator and (in my opinion) varies depending on how a system is used. ------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this list, please email [email protected] & you will be removed.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
