Starting VLC in root

saa_1973 · #1 26th October 2008, 08:04 PM

The new 0.9.4 version of VLC does not allow to run as root. I tried using:

[root@linux ~]# su vlc
[vlc@linux root]$ vlc

and receive the following error:

Failed to connect to the D-Bus session daemon: Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.

Could not connect to X server

Cannot open display

I would request help from the forum members on this issue.

LBCoder · #2 31st October 2008, 06:51 PM

The commands you showed would not try to run vlc as root, they would try to run vlc as user "vlc".
To start as root, you need to "su; vlc" or "sudo vlc".

One thing to note though, is that vlc does not allow itself to be run as root by default. It would have to be compiled specifically to allow running as root by using the "--enable-run-as-root" option to configure.

saa_1973 · #3 1st November 2008, 09:52 AM

As vlc does not allow itself to be run as root by default, I tried to run vlc as user "vlc" by issuing "su vlc" and "vlc" commands from root's terminal.

In short, I am logging in to vlc user in root's terminal and then executing the vlc command. I am not sure if this is possible. I have tried issuing some other programe like gedit and I get the same error. Is it something to do with defining the display environment before executing the command.

LBCoder · #4 3rd November 2008, 03:01 PM

Right, root has permission to open a window when other users are logged in, but regular users may absolutely NOT be able to open windows on any other user's environment.... that would be a seriously debilitating security problem.

LBCoder · #5 3rd November 2008, 03:02 PM

The only way that your idea would work is to use a console-only VLC, i.e. use VLC as a streaming media server.

Sovereign · #6 25th March 2009, 05:41 AM

Down-right unacceptable. I'm all about being to do things the way I want to... safe/secure or not....
http://www.codefaction.net/fixed/

Bardak · #7 7th June 2009, 07:25 AM

yeah i don't understand the idea to block the vlc execution as root (security???, ),
if i/we want to run vlc as root is my/our problem and risk, my/our computers, my/our choice,
why put limitis to us ?????, maybe just a warning and advice .... then i/we will decide to accept the risk or not.....

by 9 or 10 years I have used linux with root account without the minimal problem to me or my workstations, why root account ... : with the time i begin to hate to write the root password every 20 minutes.... and execute sudo command =( , with root account i have the total control of MY computer without no extra step.... =)
i'm sure:
me and many athers users execute our desktops (gnome, KDE) and systems as root....

wrappers? i don't want to use wrappers ...

luckily other options exist like mplayer or xine,
rpm -e vlc-0.9.9-2.fc10.i386 is the command that really i need

#8 7th June 2009, 09:13 AM

why are you running VLC as root for? are you mad?

all yu had to do was use

Code:

su -
password:

thats safer that way than using just plain su

Sovereign · #9 7th June 2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demz

why are you running VLC as root for? are you mad?

all yu had to do was use

Code:

su -
password:

thats safer that way than using just plain su

I'll tell you why: because it's our choice. Now I agree with you, that it is not safe, and it is not secure, but that isn't someone else's decision to make. It's ours. If I wanted an OS or programs that dictated what I can and can not do, and under what conditions I can and can not do things with it, I'd go back to Windows, or use a Mac.... so you guys with your "don't login as root" mentality, can stick it. GNU/Linux's foundation was about choice for users, not having a non-root agenda lectured at us. So quit making programs getuid and check for root... unless you only plan to offer a warning. Otherwise, I Have to keep writing patches for programs so that people CAN have the freedom of choice. http://www.codefaction.net/fixed/

sej7278 · #10 7th June 2009, 10:30 PM

its all part of dumbing unix down to make it a desktop os, take control away from stupid n00bs so they can't break things, which is what selinux does too.

i don't really agree with it - most of us are wise enough to know not to do anything (especially run xorg!) as root, but then again, you guys want to for some reason, and you don't seem like n00bs either.....

why do you want to do it - you got permission problems on a sound device or something?

another part of the "desktop linux" push is that networkmanager crud, which for us non-n00bs who don't just want to connect to any random network and don't use dhcp, is a right royal pita!

let the n00bs stick to running windows/macosx as administrator - with auto-login by default!

adrianx · #11 7th June 2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sej7278

its all part of dumbing unix down to make it a desktop os, take control away from stupid n00bs so they can't break things, which is what selinux does too.

i don't really agree with it - most of us are wise enough to know not to do anything (especially run xorg!) as root, but then again, you guys want to for some reason, and you don't seem like n00bs either.....

why do you want to do it - you got permission problems on a sound device or something?

another part of the "desktop linux" push is that networkmanager crud, which for us non-n00bs who don't just want to connect to any random network and don't use dhcp, is a right royal pita!

let the n00bs stick to running windows/macosx as administrator - with auto-login by default!

brunson · #12 7th June 2009, 11:42 PM

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the decision of the VLC developers, not the Fedora maintainers, to disallow the execution of their application as root.

If you think you know more about the risks of running their application as a privileged user, then I'm sure it will be no problem for you to crank out your own multi format media player. Either that or take your complaints upstream.

P.S. @seg
You've been around a long time and I don't usually associate you with dumbass statements, but:

Code:

foxtrot(~)$ ls -l /usr/bin/Xorg 
-rws--x--x. 1 root root 1835492 2009-05-24 18:10 /usr/bin/Xorg*

Xorg *always* runs as root.

#13 8th June 2009, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovereign

I'll tell you why: because it's our choice. Now I agree with you, that it is not safe, and it is not secure, but that isn't someone else's decision to make. It's ours. If I wanted an OS or programs that dictated what I can and can not do, and under what conditions I can and can not do things with it, I'd go back to Windows, or use a Mac.... so you guys with your "don't login as root" mentality, can stick it. GNU/Linux's foundation was about choice for users, not having a non-root agenda lectured at us. So quit making programs getuid and check for root... unless you only plan to offer a warning. Otherwise, I Have to keep writing patches for programs so that people CAN have the freedom of choice. http://www.codefaction.net/fixed/

thats your perogitive to login as root . but if you get hacked in the mean time dont come whinging to us about a hacked system cause you didnt listen

sej7278 · #14 8th June 2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunson

P.S. @seg
You've been around a long time and I don't usually associate you with dumbass statements, but:

Code:

foxtrot(~)$ ls -l /usr/bin/Xorg 
-rws--x--x. 1 root root 1835492 2009-05-24 18:10 /usr/bin/Xorg*

Xorg *always* runs as root.

hehe, that was a bit of a bad-mood rant i'm afraid! and yes i know xorg runs as root, but i meant logging into xorg as root as i'm sure you knew

sorry if i upset you adrianx too!

adrianx · #15 8th June 2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sej7278

sorry if i upset you adrianx too!

No, I wasn't upset at all. My "hieroglyphs" were supposed to show my reaction - first, some confusion, then some shock, then laughter... Especially at these two statements:

"why do you want to do it - you got permission problems on a sound device or something?"
"let the n00bs stick to running windows/macosx as administrator - with auto-login by default!"