Linux Commands not RH Commands?

[tompoe]

Well, I'm not real sure about this, but I just can't figure why I, as root, can't type the command, arp, or ifconfig with or without arguments, and have the system recognize them. Invariably, it's the ol' "command not found" msg. Is it RH? Is it a common thingy? Any pointers appreciated. Thanks, Tom

[Derango]

The reason for that is RH probably didn't install those particular commands when you installed the distro. You might want to try and find the RPM package they are in and install that.

Sorry I coulden't be more helpfull.

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This space For Rent

[tompoe]

Originally posted by Derango:
The reason for that is RH probably didn't install those particular commands when you installed the distro. You might want to try and find the RPM package they are in and install that.

Sorry I coulden't be more helpfull.


Hi: Hey, thanks. Looked around for stuff, like typing in ifconfig on the RH site, and coming up empty [of course, unless I want to spend gobs of money with 'em, now that they're BIG TIME]. The quote that follows comes from: http://www.magma.ca/~bklimas/Linux_commands.htm#Admin_commands

Looks like I may be onto something with the PATH topic. Will check it out. Tom

Intro. This is a practical selection of the commands we use most often. Press <Tab> on the empty command line to see the listing of all available command (on your PATH). On my small home system, it says there are 2595 executables on my PATH. Many of these "commands" can be accessed from your favourite GUI front-end (probably KDE or Gnome) by clicking on the right menu or button. They can all be run from the command line. Programs that require GUI have to be run from a terminal opened under a GUI. Some more advanced tools are described in the Part Learning with Linux of this guide.

[posterboy]

This RH box started with RH5.0 a while ago, and got upgraded along to 6.2. arp, ifconfig, et al, were installed by default, but they live in /sbin. I note that if I create a user, his default path does not include /sbin. However, roots default path does include that dir. <opinion> This is likely a "good thing", not done without some thought. It's a reminder that I must be root to mess with some of these things, and prevents the user from even seeing that there even IS such a command. </opinion> Now, if /sbin is not in your path when you are root, that seems wrong, and I don't know why.
Ray


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ray@raymondjones.net
HTTP://www.raymondjones.net

[A_Lawn_GNOME]

type:
export PATH=$PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/sbin

[tompoe]

Well folks, I am one happy camper, here. I tried to think of a command that would fail, but return a message that showed my PATH, but couldn't [only thought for about 20 seconds http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif ].

I then entered export PATH= command, on your very astute recommendations, and lo and behold, I am up and running.

So, since we know that root is assigned this PATH when RH6.2 is installed, the question is, "Does it?". If so, as I assumed, then I managed to lose it along the way, somehow. If it doesn't, as I think, then wonder why I couldn't find anything about this? Oh, well, on to total destruction, I say. And, many thanks to you, and wishes for a very HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. Thanks, Tom