Setting the default shell without using chsh

UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
1

I have tcsh being set as the default shell.I would like to change to ksh.

But i dont have "chsh" on my solaris box.so i added the following code to my ~/.login file

if ( -f /usr/bin/ksh) then
setenv SHELL /usr/bin/ksh
exec /usr/bin/ksh
endif

But this helps me to get the ksh,i doesnot seems to execute ~/.profile & ~/.kshrc files.

Note : I have added the ENV=~/.kshrc;export ENV line to my ~/.profile.

Please provide me your suggestions.

Thanks
Nagarajan Ganesan

2

What is your OS ? On Solaris for example you can use "passwd -e" - will change the shell.

3

I use SCO Openserver 5, and when I create a new user, the OS creates
an entry in the file /etc/passwd, which states what the default shell is.

Read up on adduser, and the passwd file, if your OS is similar!

4

Hi All,
I tried to use passwd -e & ypasswd -e but it doesnot allows me to change the shell(Permission denied).

Adding the below code to ~/.login file (My default shell is /usr/bin/tcsh) helps to me to get the korn shell.

if ( -f /usr/bin/ksh) then
setenv SHELL /usr/bin/ksh
exec /usr/bin/ksh
endif

Note: I don't have root access

Please provide in your thoughts.

Thanks in Advance,
Nagarajan G

5

HI All,
In my previous post i tried to exec the ksh,but it doesn't seems to execute the ~/.profile file.

Do we have any methods/options to exec so that we can tell the os to exec it as that of the login shell,thereby making the ksh to execute the ~/.profile .

Thanks
Nagarajan Ganesan

6

yes - all work must be done from "root".

7

Please refrain from bumping your posts the rules do not allow this.

8

I'm new to using the unix forum - when I reply, I just click on the top reply button. Did I get that wrong? Click on the bottom button?

9

Sorry not you coreysan, my comment was directed to ennstate. We posted at almost the same time and your post was not there when I started my reply.

10

Hi All,
I apologize for inconvienence caused. I got a solution this problem.

I created the following link,

ln -s /usr/bin/ksh ~/-ksh

And added the following lines to my ~/.login file,

if ( -f /usr/bin/ksh) then
       echo "Using Korn shell"
       setenv SHELL /usr/bin/ksh
       exec  -ksh
endif

This helps to me get a korn shell upon logging in and it also executes the ~/.profile 

Thanks 
Nagarajan Ganesan
11

I have the same problem, it almost works. However, can I see your .profile (or the relevant part of it)?