Etherape not run as root from application launcher

[Christiaan ter Veen]

Binary package hint: etherape

I just installed etherape and when I opened it from the kde application launcher I got the following error:

Error getting device: no suitable device found

It appears that etherape needs root access in order to work.

Typing `kdesudo etherape` in the commandline or changing the command to `kdesudo etherape` in the application launcher fixes this bug.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: etherape 0.9.8-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.37-7.19-generic 2.6.37-rc3
Uname: Linux 2.6.37-7-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jan 8 12:31:21 2011
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20101201.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bhostname
SourcePackage: etherape

[Hans Joachim Desserud (hjd)]

Thanks for reporting this bug and making Ubuntu better.

I was able to reproduce this problem and got the same error when starting etherape from the menu. By running "gksudo etherape", I was able to use the program.

[Hans Joachim Desserud (hjd)]

I discovered something strange earlier today. My menu contained two elements: etherape and etherape (as root). The second entry worked as advertised, without any error message. I tested with a virtual machine, and it seems this entry is not added to the menu on install, but will show up after a reboot.
Also, I forgot to mention I am using gnome, but I assume it would be similar on other Desktop Environments as well.

[Christiaan ter Veen (mail-rork)]

On Kubuntu natty alpha 2 I have a total of three shortcuts to etherape in my menu: etherape in the system menu and etherape and etherape (as root) in the internet menu.

I just reinstalled natty and etherape and all shortcuts appear in the menu straight after install. I think I just didn't notice them the first time I installed it.

[Riccardo Angelino (riccardoangelino)]

I have this problem with Ubuntu Lucid 10.04.2

[Hans Joachim Desserud (hjd)]

Just checked, and I get the same behaviour as in comment #2 or #3 with etherape 0.9.12-1 on Ubuntu Raring.

[Wise Melon (wise-melon-deactivatedaccount)]

I get this too, and I use Ubuntu Gnome 15.04, and I also get the two options to start Etherape, I think that it would be good if Etherape were to check if the current user is root or not when starting, and if not either ask for a password, or ask the user to start Etherape as root and then exit.

[Ken Sharp (kennybobs)]

This will never be fixed.