[LUAU] System Admin for regular users

[Shawn Evans]

looks useful, time to buy a python book.

Shawn

bbraun at sparcy.synack.net wrote:

> On Monday, Nov 1998 at 19:18:48 Shawn Evans wrote:
>  | Everyone,
>  |
>  |    I have a slight problem.  I have many laptop systems running Redhat
>  | 4.2 (depended on because of software using 4.2) and I need a way for a
>  | basic user to administer some basics without becoming SU.  All the user
>  | needs to be able to do is:
>  |
>  | 1.  Change local IP Address
>  | 2.  Change other peoples ip's in their own /etc/hosts
>  | 3.  Change printer
>  | 4.  Clear printer queue
>
>  Hmm.  Nope, I am not aware of any existing tools to do what you want.
>  However, I've whipped up a quick Python tool that will do at least
>  numbers 1,2, and 4.  It is Tk based GUI.  You must have a Tk enabled
>  python to make it work(debian has it by default, slackware does not,
>  dunno about redhat).  It's at:
>  http://synack.net/simpadm
>
>  Beware: I whipped this up in a few minutes, after midnight my time,
>  and right before I go on a trip that will take me through LA, SanDiego,
>  and Boston in 3 days.  It is simplistic, non multithread safe, and
>  is vulnerable to symlink attacks.  these can be fixed, maybe if
>  someone finds it useful.
>
>  Notes on usage: The script does what it says when you press return,
>  _for each field_.  For example, when you enter the IP address,
>  and press return, it will change the ip right when you press return.
>  Also, IP changes are not persistent accross reboots right now.
>  This can also be read as it does not change startup scripts.
>
>  If you find this even remotely useful, let me know.  I can make
>  changes and improvements as requested.  Also, its a python script
>  so someone else can make changes if they so desire.
>
>  I tried using this as sudo simpadm.  Didn't try setuid execution.
>  You can set in the sudoers file for them to only be able to execute
>  specific commands as root.
>
>  Rob