Very Computer

Please read this through your Newbe Glasses.

I run Caldera eDesktop2.4 on a laptop with a Linux compatible PCMCIA modem
on ttyS1.
The version of KDE that came with the distro worked great. including the
Ksaferppp dialer.

I recently installed KDE2.1 from RPM and found the dialer would only work
if I were logged in as root.

Logged in as a user, the symptom origenaly was "can't connect to modem" no
matter what device setting I used (modem, cua1 or ttyS1). After a lot of
prodding and poking I noticed that /dev/ttyS1 rights were set so that only
root and some odd group named uucp could r/w to it. Once I fixed that,
lowly users could dial out via Kppp.

BUT

Then, once connection and hadshake was successful. pppd fails with a code
16.  I looked it up and no joy there.

Remember, Kppp works great if I login as root.

I then went to /opt/kde2/bin/ and set the rights (attributes?) of
everything that contained ppp in the name so the users group could rwx.  No
joy. Then I set the suid bit on in pppd. Still no worky.

I have given up and added a menu icon for the old Ksaferppp program. Works
fine. (using it now)

I would really like to get the Kppp dialer working without creating a
security hole (like "run as root"). Can anyone help? Please?

For extra bonus points can anyone tell me what the hell the user group uucp
is and why it is so pervasive?

Sean Havins
Colorado, USA

--
Don't believe everything you think.

kppp needs to be suid root if you want to use it as an ordinary user:

chmod +s /usr/bin/kppp

YESSSSS!!!!!!!
Thank you. that was it exactly.

When I tried the command you sent me I got the following:

chmod: /usr/bin/kpp: No such file or directory

As you can see,  when I figured out where the file is in my installation it
worked fine. When I went back and checked the properties, I noticed that
Both the UID and GID bits got set. Of course you knew that.

Score one for a command line interface. I had read about Set UID before and
had always used the "permitions" tab of "properties" and set just that.

Thanks Again
Sean

BTW, What is the "uucp" group?

--
Don't believe everything you think.

The undercover alien spy known as shavins extruded a tentacle and
scratched:

I think its Unix to Unix Communication Protocol which is why kppp is
probably a member. So the correct  solution to your problem would be to
give your users membership of this group so they can operate diallers
etc. The same as sound devices should all be in an audio etc. making
things suid root creates security holes. Thats why you will find all
those strange users and groups on your computer that arent real people!
But of course I could be wrong ( it has happened :-) )

Andrew

--
C'mon, What are you waiting for?
Imminentize the eschaton NOW!!!