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Re: "Operation not permitted" error when using su



On Sat, Jun 29, 2013 at 04:00:41PM -0400, Stephen Powell wrote:
> I have discovered a problem recently when using su to switch to a user
> other than root on a Gnome Terminal session.  Let's say I login to the
> graphical desktop using a userid of "fred".  When I launch a Gnome
> Terminal session, I'm automatically logged in as "fred".  Now, let's
> suppose I switch to user "barney" by using
> 
>    su barney
> 
> After entering the password for user "barney", my userid changes to
> "barney" in that session.  (whoami reports "barney".)  I then change
> to barney's home directory with "cd", issued with no operands.  Now,
> certain commands will cause error messages to the terminal.  For example,
> if I issue
> 
>    vi stuff
> 
> Then exit vi with :q, I am back to another shell prompt, but there is an
> error message on the screen which looks like this:
> 
>    Error: messages not turned on: /dev/pts/0: Operation not permitted

Is there a difference if you " su - barney" ?

-- 
"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people
who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the 
oppressing." --- Malcolm X


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