[uml-devel] [tim@fungible.com: Bug#140790: user-mode-linux: error message when non-root can't run uml_net]

[Matt Z. <md...@de...>]

retitle 140790 better error messages when exec of uml_net fails
severity 140790 minor
thanks

I don't think that it's wise to try to include instructions for fixing the
problem in the error message, as these will vary depending on the local
installation, but it would be nice to have a descriptive error message
instead of the errno value.

----- Forwarded message from Tim Freeman <ti...@fu...> -----

Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 04:51:41 -0800
From: Tim Freeman <ti...@fu...>
Resent-From: Tim Freeman <ti...@fu...>
To: Debian Bug Tracking System <su...@bu...>
Subject: Bug#140790: user-mode-linux: error message when non-root can't run uml_net

Package: user-mode-linux
Version: 2.4.18.12um-1
Severity: normal

I understand that it's a security problem for random users to invoke
uml_net.  However, the error message when it fails is obscure:

   Cleaning: /etc/network/ifstate.
   Setting up IP spoofing protection: rp_filter.
   Configuring network interfaces: tuntap_open_tramp : didn't receive a message
   Exec of '/usr/lib/uml/uml_net' failed - errno = 13
   tuntap_open_tramp failed - errno = 22
   SIOCSIFFLAGS: Invalid argument
   tuntap_open_tramp : didn't receive a message
   Exec of '/usr/lib/uml/uml_net' failed - errno = 13
   tuntap_open_tramp failed - errno = 22
   SIOCSIFFLAGS: Invalid argument
   done.

Doing a perror to get textual error messages would be an improvement.
Realizing that this will be a common situation (since uml is
documented to work as a non-root user) and including explicit
instructions for fixing the problem in the error message would be even
better.

-- System Information
Debian Release: 3.0
Architecture: i386
Kernel: Linux lobus 2.4.17 #6 Sun Mar 31 13:05:51 PST 2002 i686
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C

Versions of packages user-mode-linux depends on:
ii  uml-utilities                 20020320-1 User-mode Linux (utility programs)

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
 - mdz