zmpkg[7759]: ERR [Unable to find valid 'su' syntax]

samiweb · Post by **samiweb** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:11 am

Hello all,

I previously installed zoneminder and it was working fine.

I made some changes on my debian and now, I can't run it !!

when I click on "stopped" and I choose start I have an error on the log /var/log/syslog

Jan 13 08:08:08 debian zmpkg[7928]: INF [Command: start]
Jan 13 08:08:09 debian zmpkg[7928]: ERR [Unable to find valid 'su' syntax]

can anyone help me ?
I have already installed sudo package
Im' runing the 1.23.0 version
thank you
Sami

FASSIA · Post by **FASSIA** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:54 pm

Why a lot of people are asking about this error and nobody is replying them?

I have the same problem, but I suppose that this is a common error, so I'm going to keep reading over the forum. If I found something, I'll post a reply

Regards

Post by **zoneminder** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:19 pm

Unfortunately I don't have a Debian system so can't check this problem. For distro specific issues there is usually someone who is an expert who can diagnose the problem and recommend a fix. Ubuntu is Debian based I think and there appear to be no problems with that so it may be worth enquiring oif people who are running on that.

samiweb · Post by **samiweb** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:56 am

hello zoneminder & fassia

ok but what does that mean
Unable to find valid 'su' syntax

in which case we have this error ?

may be if we understand the error we can found the solution ?
thank you

FASSIA · Post by **FASSIA** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:39 am

Hi samiweb!

I see this error in the syslog everytime I want to start Zoneminder from the frontend (web page). And of corse, the ZM status still "Stopped".

What kind of changes do you make in your Debian?

I´m using Ubuntu (Debian based) and the only weird thing I made is change the shell to bash, doing something like:

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rm /bin/sh
ln -s /bin/sh /bin/bash

I think the problem is related to this because the error is about a command syntax...

But I guessing to much =P I hope someone with experience can help a little with this issue.

samiweb · Post by **samiweb** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:49 am

Hello,

I just made some upgrade ...

I don't understand

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:02 pm

As one of the Debian bigots I will tell you why I did not answer your post.

"I made some changes..."
Am I expected to guess? If you messed up your system, and do not know how, it is much easier to reinstall and start from a known good platform than to try and guess what is screwed up. I say the same things to Ubuntu users who install Envy and complain when a major upgrade breaks the system... So rather than make a post that would be less than professional about your poor linux hygine, I chose to pass and let someone else handle this one. Sometimes you need to step back for a while, or you degenerate into one of the "Search Noob!" shouting idiots...

But I guess others were also stepping back for a while.

when I click on "stopped" and I choose start I have an error on the log /var/log/syslog

Jan 13 08:08:08 debian zmpkg[7928]: INF [Command: start]
Jan 13 08:08:09 debian zmpkg[7928]: ERR [Unable to find valid 'su' syntax]

Yep. sudo is broke... You compiled it one way, and then changed the way... You also might check your startup scripts. I would say where, but you did not say how you installed it.

So for real help... What were the changes exactly.
How did you install it?
What version?

FASSIA · Post by **FASSIA** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:04 am

Hi Lee Sharp! Thanks for the reply.

I will explain my installation procedures:

First I download the 1.23.1 version.
Then unpack it in my Desktop and build it:
./configure --with-webdir=/var/www/zm --with-cgidir=/var/www/zm/cgi

After that I write the MySQL statements:
mysql mysql < db/zm_create.sql
mysql mysql
grant select,insert,update,delete on zm.* to 'zmuser'@localhost identified by 'zmpass';
quit
mysqladmin reload

Then I do a make install. Next to that I run /usr/local/bin/zmpkg.pl start

I do a chmod 644 to zm.conf, then I load the frontend. Everything is allright up to here. But when I try to start Zoneminder from the web panel, the status remain in "Stopped", and the syslog said the 'su' thing.

That's all!

erm... I found this >>> http://serverwiki.nerdworks.org/index.p ... nce_Server

Is a tutorial to install ZM in a Slackware distro, but I think it could help. I can't read it right now, 'cos it's to late for me, but tomorrow I will do it

Post by **cordel** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:44 am

You didn't define a user or group for ZM in ./configure, so did you set the proper user and group in zm.conf so that zm uses the same user as the web server as described in the Documentation?

FASSIA · Post by **FASSIA** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:12 am

Yes, I do this stupid thing:

ZM_WEB_USER=root
ZM_WEB_GROUP=root

But I'm only testing, so it doesn't matter =P

Post by **cordel** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:26 am

Yes it matters alot, thats why it's in the instructions to use the web user and group. Manerror

FASSIA · Post by **FASSIA** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:54 pm

okey =P thanks Cordel, I'm going to re-read the documentation again and then I will try one more time. Samiweb... what about you? Do you found anything else?

Post by **cordel** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:18 pm

You should be fine if you just change the user and group in zm.conf. You will have to make sure to check for errors as some things that zm creates will still be root and you will have to change the permissions for things to fall into place (Like the log files for example will be owned by root, you can just delete those, and maybe the sock and pid files.)

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:49 pm

You might want to try the .deb for now. After you get to know the program, you can roll your own build, but the .deb is much easier.

samiweb · Post by **samiweb** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 6:38 am

hello,
I was waiting for a notification from the forum, and I did think that no one has reply

anyway, fo me the situation is the same, I have upgraded to the version to the 1.23.1
and try to compil it the the line command:

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./configure --with-webdir=/var/www/zm --with-cgidir=/usr/lib/cgi-bin --with-webuser=www-data --with-webgroup=www-data

But I still have the same problem !!!

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Feb  3 06:50:54 debian zmpkg[5010]: INF [Command: start]
Feb  3 06:50:55 debian zmpkg[5010]: ERR [Unable to find valid 'su' syntax]

I also tried to change the user an group to root (just for testing) into the file /usr/local/etc/zm.conf but the same thing happens

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Feb  3 07:40:55 debian zmpkg[5486]: INF [Command: start]
Feb  3 07:40:55 debian zmpkg[5486]: ERR [Unable to find valid 'su' syntax]

how can I resolve that ??
thank you
Sami