Re: OpenSSH and $HOME

From: Phil Endecott (phil_nn05_at_chezphil.org)
Date: 06/14/05

  • Next message: Martin Ouwehand: "Re: log tunneled connections" 
    Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 13:07:35 GMT

    Thanks for the quick response.

    Darren Tucker wrote:
    > Phil Endecott wrote:
    >>I was hoping to persuade ssh to look somewhere non-standard for these
    >>files by temporarily setting $HOME, but this doesn't seem to be
    >>possible. So, is there any other way to influence it, apart from
    >>changing /etc/passwd (or hacking the source)?
    >
    > Depends on the file. See, eg, "-F" in ssh(1) and "IdentityFile" in
    > ssh_config(5).

    OK, so it looks as if I can change the location of the known hosts file
    by generating a temporary config file with "UserKnownHostsFile XXX" and
    passing that temporary file using -F. It's a bit clunky but I think it
    will work.

    > What exactly are you trying to achieve?

    Think "kiosk application". ssh always runs as the same unpriviledged
    user who has no home directory; currently it complains about being
    unable to read or write to known_hosts and other things in $HOME/.ssh.
    If possible, I'd like to keep the known_hosts data, but nothing else,
    from one session to the next based on the person using it (where person
    != unix user).

    >>Would people agree that this is a documentation bug?
    > Yes, but it's already been fixed:

    Excellent!

    Thanks,

    --Phil.

  • Next message: Martin Ouwehand: "Re: log tunneled connections"