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Tweak system files without invoking a root shell

Terminal - Tweak system files without invoking a root shell
echo "Whatever you need" | sudo tee [-a] /etc/system-file.cfg
2009-03-09 01:33:31
User: asmoore82
Functions: echo sudo tee
4
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Tweak system files without invoking a root shell

only for sudo-style systems.

Use this construct instead of I/O re-directors ``>'' or ``>>'' because

sudo only elevates the commands and *not* the re-directors.

***warning: remember that the `tee` command will clobber

file contents unless it is given the ``-a'' argument

Also, for extra security, the "left" command is still run unprivileged.

Show sample output | Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Alternatives

There is 1 alternative - vote for the best!

Terminal - Alternatives

Know a better way?

If you can do better, submit your command here.

What others think

sudo vim /etc/system-file.cfg

Comment by linuxrawkstar 223 weeks and 3 days ago

[quote]sudo vim /etc/system-file.cfg[/quote]

Yes, of course, but if all you need to do is replace the contents of a file with a one-liner,

the pipe is quicker - esp. when remotely managing a server.

If you need to type the full path of some file into a config file,

the pipe is quicker **and more accurate**

such as:

ls /var/log/samba/log.winbindd | sudo tee -a /etc/some-file.cfg sudo vi /etc/some-file.cfg

... you will know if your path and file are correct before

even vim-ing the config file.

Comment by asmoore82 223 weeks and 2 days ago

Your point of view

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