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leedm777
Asked: 2012-05-03 06:52:59 +0800 CST

When puppet exec's as a user, how can I get environment set for that user?

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I've noticed that when I use the user option on exec, it doesn't take the environment of the specified user.

$ sudo -i puppet apply -e "exec { '/usr/bin/env': logoutput => true, user => nobody}" 
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: SHELL=/bin/bash
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: USER=root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: USERNAME=root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: MAIL=/var/mail/root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: PWD=/root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: HOME=/root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: LOGNAME=root
notice: /Stage[main]//Exec[/usr/bin/env]/returns: executed successfully

So while the command runs as nobody, USER, HOME, etc. aren't set as expected. Is there any way I can get exec to simulate a login shell so that the environment is setup as expected?

puppet

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    There's no way to get exec to simulate a login shell. You can always use su - (as suggested by womble) to get produce a login shell, but if all you want are environment variables controlled by Puppet, just use the parameter environment.

    • 10

  2. Sure, run the command via su - rather than specifying the user in the manifest.

    • 6