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Idea #19322: Ask for Root permission

bug This idea was marked as already implemented the 31 August 09.
Written by moose the 20 Apr 09 at 12:10. Related project: Nautilus. Status: Already implemented
Rationale
There are some programs / files that need root access to use them. Sometimes there is only an alert that you don't have the rights to execute / delete / save this program / file.
Tags: delete file root

76
votes
closed
Solution #1: Use promt like Synaptic
Written by moose the 20 Apr 09 at 12:10.
When I start Synaptic a root prompt asks for my root passwort. If Nautilus did the same for files I want to delete where the owner is root or gedit / kate would ask for root password if I want to save a file with owner root it would be great.

At the moment I open those programs with Alt+F2 "gksu" or in the console with "sudo" like "sudo rm -r /home/moose/.local/share/Trash/files/2008_0918_RT2860_Linux_STA_v1.8.0.0"
2
votes
closed
Solution #2: Use the pre-existent nautilus script
Written by sanketmedhi the 4 May 09 at 14:26.
There is already a Nautilus script which allows you to right-click the protected file and select "Open as Administrator". It is just like running gksu on the file.

sudo apt-get install nautilus-gksu

http://www.makeuseof.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/nautilus-gksu.jpg

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Comments
jeypeyy wrote on the 21 Apr 09 at 16:32
This thing you talk about is PolicyKit. I also think that PolicyKit should be integrated with nautilus.

fizyk wrote on the 21 Apr 09 at 20:35
hmmm.... normal user wouldn't wander on file system to execute/delete some files/programs he doesn't have permissions to...
installing program in general creates a launcher with gksu if needed, and power user can create such a shortcut, and adding the ability to delete root's files would be too dangerous. You could accidentally delete some important file, just because you automatically write password and press enter when prompted.
sudo rm -r is useful when clearing flash drives of those windows' viruses, that are marked as root's files... and that could be eventually solved by those prompts

cubytus wrote on the 9 May 09 at 15:17
There are yet programs that ask admin access for no reason. The best example of this is gISOmount, whose only purpose is mounting ISO files as drives. Isn't it ridiculous? Do we need admin access to mount a USB key?

It hampers execution as a "normal", non admin user in Ubuntu, and to an extreme, if not fixed, it will become as in Windows, when users click buttons without even reading what the dialog says.

The best way would be surely fixing those issues with the programs invovled, and reserve admin rights to programs which really have a risk to blast the system.


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