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August 30, 2008 02:16am pdt
 
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Linux init script, bash, exporting variable and accessing as another user?

Tags: Bash Scripting
I'm using Fedora 8.

I have an initscript for my app which sets some variables, and then starts the process as another user. ex:

LOGFILE=/usr/local/code/myprog/logfile.txt
PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/code/myprog/
BIN="myprog"

export LOGFILE
export PATH
export BIN

   if su - myuser -c "$DIBIN" >>$LOGFILE 2>&1 &; then
       success
   else
       failure
   fi

   echo


The problem as I understand it is that my app cannot then access the variables, since they were set by root. My app, in C++, uses the getenv("LOGFILE") to check for the variable, which returns null.

I'm looking for a solution that involves the least amount of system configuration (ie., editing sudoers or bash profiles). Hopefully something can work right in the script. I'm thinking there should be a way that I can export variables for all users to read, but I don't quite understand the environment enough at this point.

Thanks.
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Question Stats
Zone: Programming
Question Asked By: alexatsearidge
Solution Provided By: omarfarid
Participating Experts: 2
Solution Grade: A
Views: 56
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[+][-]Expert Comment by ozo

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Accepted Solution by omarfarid:

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