Re: [exim] Unable to modify exim.

Jason Cave wrote:

> Hello;
>
> I tried updating exim recently and got a Operation Not Permitted.
> A friend had someone secure the box a bit, and not I cant modify
> delete or do anything with the program exim. I checked for chflags
> that may have been on, but there are none. Anyone have any ideas
> on how to get over this problem?
>
> The server is running FreeBSD 5.4.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jason
> cavej@???
>
>

First, do:

whoami

If you are not 'root, which that message points to,

su

<root's password> and you should be OK [1]

=====

If you *are* 'root', thru 4.11, even at high-number 'kern_securelevel'
root should be able to do:

portupgrade exim-{installed version]

OR

pkg_add -rvf exim

OR

make install -DFORCE_PACKAGE_REGISTER

in /usr/ports/mail/exim or wherever you unpacked the generic tarball


However, FreeBSD 5.X also introduced ACLs and MACL's on top of unix perms.
The permissions mix can get complicated *if they are in use* (optional).

Not to mention a thousand other ways of securing a 'production' *BSD box
- you may even be in a 'jail'.

But my guess is simply that you are trying to 'make install' without
being 'root'.

HTH,

Bill

---

[1] A note about functioning as 'root':

As with piloting aircraft, Unix, Linux and the *BSD's are;

'Not inherently dangerous, but to an even greater extent than the sea,
entirely unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect'.

Think before you hit <Return>!!!

[2] If all else fails, back up what you need, do a fresh install
(suggest 6.X) and do your OWN 'security enhancements', and *document
them* somewhere. One tends to forget what was done to a box in the
months or years between reboots.