Ubuntu

file permissions and passwords

Asked by Ben Sykes

Hi, does anyone know if it's possible to be prompted for a password to folders you don't have permission to access (like when you are asked for it when you change settings etc.) instead of just getting the normal "you do not have permission to view the contents of ____ folder"? For example, could root create a folder with restricted access which prompts for a password when any user other than root attempts to access it other than just blocking them out completely?

Ben

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Ben Sykes
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
douglas_smith (hamsterzombie-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#1

sudo nautilus in a terminal doesn't get the job done for you?
Just trying to clarify the question. Do you have other users you wish to allow access files but put some measure of security on them? Or, do you just want to peruse normally "root level" files in the system?

Revision history for this message
Ben Sykes (bensykes55) said : 		#2

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The problem with sudo nautilus is that it's a bit long winded. One of the good things about Ubuntu is that whenever you want to change a system setting you don't have to go into the terminal to do it, it just pops up a box asking for a password. So when you want to change your network settings, it is both secure and easy to do. I was just wondering if there was any way in which a similar procedure could be used to access root restricted folders without having to go into the terminal.

Revision history for this message
douglas_smith (hamsterzombie-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#3

So you want to login as root?
To do that, you will have to work in the terminal. There are instructions here
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=86172
One way or the other, you will have to sully your hands in the terminal sooner or later.
As you'll see in the thread, the reason root logins are not enabled by default are to protect you from yourself... If you are not comfortable with the command line (and even if you are), it's definitely sound advice. But the nice thing about linux is that nothing is "forbidden" so enjoy your power and use it wisely. Please backup your /home before proceeding...
=)
Have Fun.

Revision history for this message
Ben Sykes (bensykes55) said : 		#4

Thanks for your response but I'm afraid it didn't really help. I'm still a bit of a newbie to ubuntu but am perfectly at home working from the terminal and certainly don't want to log in as root. I just wanted to see if there was a way a user without root privileges could be prompted for a password while accessing a restricted folder in the same way that they would when accessing admin settings; I guess there must not be.
Thanks anyway though.

Ben

Revision history for this message
dinar qurbanov (qdinar) said : 		#5

hello.
that packages for linux exist. when i was in mandriva i used some.
one package was "edit as root"
one was "open as root"
these was appearing in context menu.
i think these are also in ubuntu.

that they were: gedit-root, gksu.

in ubuntu is nautilus-gksu.

Revision history for this message
dinar qurbanov (qdinar) said : 		#6

i have just tried to install nautilus-gksu and nothing have seen.