RHEL - can't sudo from script

Question

I have a script where I'm trying to change user (from root) on boot. In /etc/rc.d/rc.local, I've changed it to cd into the script dir and execute it. It all works except for when it tries to execute:

sudo -u newuser ./myscript.sh

I get an error message:

sorry, you must have a tty to run sudo

So I went and looked in my /etc/sudoers file, and it is already set to !requiretty, which should turn that off. I have also tried alternatives such as gksudo, but apparently RHEL 6.5 only supports basic sudo.

I know the script works because I can execute it myself from terminal, it's just when I try and execute it from a boot script.

you shouldn't need to use sudo when you're already root, use `su`. Also, this is probably off topic on SO, should go to superuser. — mata, Jun 03 '15 at 10:37
Yes, you're right, thanks. And I'll take it to superuser next time! — ALOIVIA, Jun 03 '15 at 10:46

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 03 '15 at 10:42

Just changed:

sudo -u newuser ./myscript.sh

To:

/bin/su -c ./myscript.sh newuser

And it seems to work. I guess because sudo is normally there to elevate your privileges but since it starts as root I don't really need it and can use su instead. Will try this out in various places to make sure it works 100%.

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 11 '17 at 07:49

0

su -u newuser -c ./myscript.sh

edited Apr 11 '17 at 07:49

Draken

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answered Apr 11 '17 at 06:25

Shailesh

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It will be more helpful if you can add one or two liner description for this answer. – IRSHAD Apr 11 '17 at 06:37
Su--Switch user (-u for username -c for Commad ) ./ means run the script from current directory – Shailesh Apr 12 '17 at 10:10
su sometimes does not recognize -u option, instead you have to do like this: `su -c "./myscript.sh" - newuser` – Gabriel Hautclocq Jan 25 '18 at 13:42

RHEL - can't sudo from script

2 Answers2