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Accepted
Kim Stacks
Asked: 2012-12-26 02:34:06 +0800 CST

When I switch to new user, I am unable to see the name in the prompt - Why?

  • 772

I have just created a fresh installation of Ubuntu 12.10

I have created a www-data user account.

When I switch to www-data, I cannot see www-data at the front of the prompt.

  1. What is the technical name to call that part of the prompt?
  2. How can I make it appear for www-data?

See this for reference.

As you can see, root has this. But not www-data

enter image description here

command-line

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    I found the solution here

    but i will explain the exact steps I used.

    first at root i did a

    echo $SHELL

    I saw that I have /bin/bash

    then i switch to www-data

    sudo su www-data

    then i do a 

    echo $SHELL

    I saw that I had

    /bin/sh

    instead.

    So I did a 

    chsh -s /bin/bash

    I was prompted for my www-data password so I gave it.

    Password:

    after that I switch back to root

    exit

    then i log back into www-data

    sudo su www-data

    I checked the $SHELL again

    echo $SHELL

    I saw that now it is 

    /bin/bash

    and also my prompt is back

    • 3
    1. I believe just 'the prompt'.
    2. Copy root's ~/.bashrc file to www-data's ~/.bashrc file.

    In other words: (run in root) cp ~/.bashrc /home/www-data/.bashrc assuming /home/www-data is www-data's home folder, which it is. Then just restart. (Actually, you only need to kill bash, but just restart anyway)

    • 2