Failure to be root is repored in a misleading message

[Kevin O'Gorman]

This is a feature request.

When solving a problem or in a rush, I don't necessarily remember everything from a man page, or even think to read it. This is what happened with ntpdate(8)

$ ntpdate
11 Dec 20:08:12 ntpdate[13930]: no servers can be used, exiting
$

Of course, I should have used sudo. And it's documented. But as I pointed out that doesn't help much when in a hurry or stressed. My bad, so I usually wouldn't mention it. But the fix is so simple I hope it appeals to you.

-> test the permissions and if they are missing, make that message

11 Dec 20:08:12 ntpdate[13930]: insufficient permissions (suggestion: use sudo)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: ntpdate 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-3ubuntu5.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-103.126-generic 4.4.98
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-103-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Mon Dec 11 17:53:23 2017
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-08-08 (490 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
SourcePackage: ntp
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Paul Gear (paulgear)]

Hi @kogorman-pacbell,

Can you explain what you think should be happening here? Running ntpdate from sudo or a root shell gives exactly the same behaviour - ntpdate requires a list of servers to be provided on the command line, and it is simply indicating that this has not been provided.

In addition, it's completely legitimate to run ntpdate as a non-root user in order to see the offset from a remote server without setting the time (see the man page for details on the -d option).

[Kevin O'Gorman (kogorman-pacbell)]

On Tue, Dec 12, 2017 at 6:17 PM, Paul Gear <email address hidden> wrote:

> Hi @kogorman-pacbell,
>
> Can you explain what you think should be happening here? Running
> ntpdate from sudo or a root shell gives exactly the same behaviour -
> ntpdate requires a list of servers to be provided on the command line,
> and it is simply indicating that this has not been provided.
>

It is indicating in a round-about way. It should do so directly: "no
servers provided on the command line, or they are not usable".
That would be more clear, and for the clueless (like me) provide a clue as
to what is expected.

>
> In addition, it's completely legitimate to run ntpdate as a non-root
> user in order to see the offset from a remote server without setting the
> time (see the man page for details on the -d option).
>
> ** Changed in: ntp (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1737657
>
> Title:
> Failure to be root is repored in a misleading message
>
> Status in ntp package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> This is a feature request.
>
> When solving a problem or in a rush, I don't necessarily remember
> everything from a man page, or even think to read it. This is what
> happened with ntpdate(8)
>
> $ ntpdate
> 11 Dec 20:08:12 ntpdate[13930]: no servers can be used, exiting
> $
>
> Of course, I should have used sudo. And it's documented. But as I
> pointed out that doesn't help much when in a hurry or stressed. My
> bad, so I usually wouldn't mention it. But the fix is so simple I
> hope it appeals to you.
>
> -> test the permissions and if they are missing, make that message
>
> 11 Dec 20:08:12 ntpdate[13930]: insufficient permissions (suggestion:
> use sudo)
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
> Package: ntpdate 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-3ubuntu5.7
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-103.126-generic 4.4.98
> Uname: Linux 4.4.0-103-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: XFCE
> Date: Mon Dec 11 17:53:23 2017
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-08-08 (490 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64
> (20160719)
> SourcePackage: ntp
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ntp/+bug/1737657/+subscriptions
>

--
Kevin O'Gorman
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[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for ntp (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]