Ubuntu

kde RunAs alternate user using gksudo instead...

Asked by edA-qa

The "run as a different user" option for an application link seems rather limited in that, well, it never works the way I'd expect.

Firstly, it never seems to use the permission of the "sudoers" file which means it always prompts for a password.

Secondly, it doesn't setup the environment the same as if I had used "gksudo" instead, and gksudo more often than not does what I expect.

I am missing the point of "run as a different user", or should there be an option added to make it run in a more sudo, or gksudo, like fashion?

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Frode M. Døving (frode) said : 		#1

There is 'kdesu' in kubuntu. The run-as function basically does the same.
The confusing part is that when you tell it to run as 'root' it expects -your- password.
That is because it uses sudo and the GUI has not been changed to reflect that kubuntu-spesific change.

man:/kdesu in konqueror can explain more in detail about the kdesu command.

You can also make kdesu use 'su' as its authentication command if that is what you want.

This is done in ~/.kde/share/config/kdesurc, it should look like this when su is selected:
frode@light:~ $ cat ~/.kde/share/config/kdesurc
[super-user-command]
super-user-command=su
frode@light:~ $
(this is a per-user setting. If you want it system wide, put the file in /usr/share/kubuntu-default-settings/kde-profile/default/share/config/ instead.)

You might need to update the system config cache:
frode@light:~ $ kbuildsycoca --incremental

Now RunAs and 'kdesu' uses 'su' for it's authentication needs. This of course depends on a enabled root account which Ubuntu/Kubuntu does not have by default.

- Frode

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Frode M. Døving (frode) said : 		#2

You can read more about root and sudo and enabling of the root account at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

- Frode

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edA-qa (eda-qa) said : 		#3

The RunAs / kdesu do not appear to actually be using "sudo" as they are not respecting the settings in the sudoers file. This is what I meant by the limitation of these options in comparison to gksudo.

My sudoers file allows me to run other programs as a different user without providing a password. I'm unable to get kdesu or "Run As" to do such a thing.

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vassiliki (spitha) said : 		#4

You don't send me others!!

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
edA-qa
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 12:27 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: [Support #1983]: Re: kde RunAs alternate user using gksudo
instead...

Support request #1983 on Ubuntu changed:
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+ticket/1983

Comment:
The RunAs / kdesu do not appear to actually be using "sudo" as they are not
respecting the settings in the sudoers file. This is what I meant by the
limitation of these options in comparison to gksudo.

My sudoers file allows me to run other programs as a different user without
providing a password. I'm unable to get kdesu or "Run As" to do such a
thing.

Revision history for this message
Nicolas DERIVE (kalon33) said : 		#5

I think that the "using sudo" functionality was added to Kdesu only since one of the latest version, 3.5.4 or 3.5.5

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