Why is there a different result when running as user1 and su - user1 -c “command”?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
0
down vote

favorite












When running as user1 in the same directory (/home/user1/WWW)



[user1@server1 WWW (master)]# touch c


Creates the file c inside the directory.



[root@server1 WWW (master) ACCEPTATIE SERVER]# su - user1 -c "touch c"


gives the error




touch: cannot touch `c': Permission denied




Why can this be?










share|improve this question





















  • @Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:16






  • 3




    If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:21










  • @steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:22










  • @steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:25










  • ... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:26














up vote
0
down vote

favorite












When running as user1 in the same directory (/home/user1/WWW)



[user1@server1 WWW (master)]# touch c


Creates the file c inside the directory.



[root@server1 WWW (master) ACCEPTATIE SERVER]# su - user1 -c "touch c"


gives the error




touch: cannot touch `c': Permission denied




Why can this be?










share|improve this question





















  • @Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:16






  • 3




    If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:21










  • @steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:22










  • @steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:25










  • ... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:26












up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











When running as user1 in the same directory (/home/user1/WWW)



[user1@server1 WWW (master)]# touch c


Creates the file c inside the directory.



[root@server1 WWW (master) ACCEPTATIE SERVER]# su - user1 -c "touch c"


gives the error




touch: cannot touch `c': Permission denied




Why can this be?










share|improve this question













When running as user1 in the same directory (/home/user1/WWW)



[user1@server1 WWW (master)]# touch c


Creates the file c inside the directory.



[root@server1 WWW (master) ACCEPTATIE SERVER]# su - user1 -c "touch c"


gives the error




touch: cannot touch `c': Permission denied




Why can this be?







sudo group su






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Aug 15 at 13:13









Thomas Moors

12410




12410











  • @Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:16






  • 3




    If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:21










  • @steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:22










  • @steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:25










  • ... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:26
















  • @Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:16






  • 3




    If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:21










  • @steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:22










  • @steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
    – Thomas Moors
    Aug 15 at 13:25










  • ... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
    – Kusalananda
    Aug 15 at 13:26















@Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
– Thomas Moors
Aug 15 at 13:16




@Kusalananda yes the directory is owned by user1:apache. I would suspect the first case would also fail when that was not true.
– Thomas Moors
Aug 15 at 13:16




3




3




If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:21




If your remove the - from the command and do su user1 -c ...? With - you do a full login, and may end up in another directory than the directory you're currently in.
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:21












@steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:22




@steeldriver That's what I thought. But why would user1 not be able to touch c in their home directory. Is there already a file owned by another user there?
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:22












@steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
– Thomas Moors
Aug 15 at 13:25




@steeldriver that is the correct identification of my problem and is solved now. So conclusion for everyone coming here via google: su - user1 -c changed the current working directory!
– Thomas Moors
Aug 15 at 13:25












... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:26




... and that file in user1's home directory is owned by another user?
– Kusalananda
Aug 15 at 13:26










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
4
down vote



accepted










When you do su - username you perform a full login as that user, meaning that you are transferred to the user's home directory. When executing touch c in this way, you therefore try to run that command in the user's home directory.



Instead, drop the - from the command line:



su user1 -c "touch c"


This would execute touch c as user1 in the current directory.




Speculation:



The original su - command failed because there is already a file called c in user1's home directory owned by another user.






share|improve this answer






















    Your Answer







    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "106"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );













     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2funix.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f462745%2fwhy-is-there-a-different-result-when-running-as-user1-and-su-user1-c-command%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest






























    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    4
    down vote



    accepted










    When you do su - username you perform a full login as that user, meaning that you are transferred to the user's home directory. When executing touch c in this way, you therefore try to run that command in the user's home directory.



    Instead, drop the - from the command line:



    su user1 -c "touch c"


    This would execute touch c as user1 in the current directory.




    Speculation:



    The original su - command failed because there is already a file called c in user1's home directory owned by another user.






    share|improve this answer


























      up vote
      4
      down vote



      accepted










      When you do su - username you perform a full login as that user, meaning that you are transferred to the user's home directory. When executing touch c in this way, you therefore try to run that command in the user's home directory.



      Instead, drop the - from the command line:



      su user1 -c "touch c"


      This would execute touch c as user1 in the current directory.




      Speculation:



      The original su - command failed because there is already a file called c in user1's home directory owned by another user.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        4
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        4
        down vote



        accepted






        When you do su - username you perform a full login as that user, meaning that you are transferred to the user's home directory. When executing touch c in this way, you therefore try to run that command in the user's home directory.



        Instead, drop the - from the command line:



        su user1 -c "touch c"


        This would execute touch c as user1 in the current directory.




        Speculation:



        The original su - command failed because there is already a file called c in user1's home directory owned by another user.






        share|improve this answer














        When you do su - username you perform a full login as that user, meaning that you are transferred to the user's home directory. When executing touch c in this way, you therefore try to run that command in the user's home directory.



        Instead, drop the - from the command line:



        su user1 -c "touch c"


        This would execute touch c as user1 in the current directory.




        Speculation:



        The original su - command failed because there is already a file called c in user1's home directory owned by another user.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Aug 15 at 13:33

























        answered Aug 15 at 13:27









        Kusalananda

        106k14209327




        106k14209327



























             

            draft saved


            draft discarded















































             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2funix.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f462745%2fwhy-is-there-a-different-result-when-running-as-user1-and-su-user1-c-command%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest













































































            Popular posts from this blog

            How to check contact read email or not when send email to Individual?

            Bahrain

            Postfix configuration issue with fips on centos 7; mailgun relay