[Cialug] Introduction

[Kendall Bailey]

I'm guessing you didn't run updatedb as root.  The "#" is typically
the prompt you see when logged in as root, so when you see a command
line like the one given in this case

# updatedb; locate firewalk | xargs file | grep executable

it's a hint to run it as root.  Also, the "sbin" directory is
typically in root's PATH already.  Executables and scripts installed
there usually have system administration purposes.  That doesn't mean
a non-privileged user can't run them at all, but there's things that
only root can do.

To add a path to your PATH environment variable, in bash, or ksh you can

$ PATH="${PATH}:/add/a/path/here"

With csh, or tcsh the syntax is different, see setenv.

good luck.

On 7/6/07, Sean McClanahan <sean.mcclanahan at westecnow.com> wrote:
> That's what I thought too - that installing the RPM would do the trick,
> especially if it is an FC7 RPM, which it is.
>
> So I ran the command you suggested.  The first thing that happened was
> updatedb complaining that it cannot open a temporary file for
> /var/lib/mlocate/mlocate.db
>
> Then, on the next line, I got /usr/sbin/firewalk:   ELF 32-bit LSB
> executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked (uses
> shared libs), for GNU/Linux 2.6.9, stripped
>
> How does one go about changing the path in FC?  When I type $PATH, I can
> see what my path is; Firewalk is indeed an executable in /usr/sbin, I
> can see that when I look at the file system.
>
> Also, I am one who typically doesn't want to just be shown how to do
> something.  I want to learn along the way, and hopefully someday, be
> able to pass along that knowledge to someone else.  That's part of why I
> wanted to find a local group to get involved with, so I can learn.  I
> know there are man pages out the wazoo out there, but I tend to learn
> more when doing the hands on aspect than just reading about it.  Heck,
> that's how I learned a lot of what I know already.  But I also believe
> in giving back the knowledge that I have gained.
>
> I guess what I'm saying in the above paragraph is that I'm not trying to
> get on here and leech out information, then leave.  If I could make sure
> that I understand Linux well enough to be comfortable with it, and I can
> start to figure out stumbling blocks like I already can do with a
> Windows box, I see no reason to not install Linux for core services here
> too - at least for things like file servers.  I know I can't make it
> into an AD DC or GC, but I bet Linux would work great for a file server,
> among other things.
>
> Sean
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org] On
> Behalf Of Todd Walton
> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:45 PM
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] Introduction
>
> On 7/6/07, Sean McClanahan <sean.mcclanahan at westecnow.com> wrote:
> > Hmmm...  an example of some difficulty that I've had is with the
> program
> > Firewalk.  I was exposed to it in a SANS class, and it seems to be an
> > interesting program.  So, I downloaded the RPM and it looked like the
> > program installed itself OK - but I cannot seem to get it to run.
>
> So, you've found how to run it?  The command is there?  What messages
> does it give you?
>
> I tried to look up Firewalk on the Internet, but nothing has any good
> information on it.  The freshmeat page is closed.  The home page is
> down.
>
> > I would say that it looks like there is no path to the executable
>
> Oh, I see.  Try this:
>
> # updatedb; locate firewalk | xargs file | grep executable
>
> That should update your 'locate' database, then find all files that
> have "firewalk" somewhere in the pathname, then determine the file
> type of each of those files.  Any file type listings that read
> something about "executable" will print out to your screen.  I suppose
> that's a start.  You'd want to make sure that the executable is in
> your $PATH.
>
> But without Internet references for the program, it's hard to say
> anything beyond that.  For example, maybe it's not "executable"
> according to 'file', but rather "script".
>
> I don't know.  One would think that installing it by RPM would make
> everything work just fine.
>
> -todd
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