What does 'script /dev/null' do?





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Every time I log into a VM with root, su into a user account, and try to use screen it throws an error:



Cannot open your terminal '/dev/pts/0' - please check.


A Stack Overflow post said I needed to use script /dev/null to fix it, and it works, but it still doesn't explain why I need to type script /dev/null. I would like to understand what it does and why I need to type it.










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    > A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

    – törzsmókus
    Apr 9 at 11:01


















20















Every time I log into a VM with root, su into a user account, and try to use screen it throws an error:



Cannot open your terminal '/dev/pts/0' - please check.


A Stack Overflow post said I needed to use script /dev/null to fix it, and it works, but it still doesn't explain why I need to type script /dev/null. I would like to understand what it does and why I need to type it.










share|improve this question









New contributor




CJL is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 2





    > A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

    – törzsmókus
    Apr 9 at 11:01














20












20








20








Every time I log into a VM with root, su into a user account, and try to use screen it throws an error:



Cannot open your terminal '/dev/pts/0' - please check.


A Stack Overflow post said I needed to use script /dev/null to fix it, and it works, but it still doesn't explain why I need to type script /dev/null. I would like to understand what it does and why I need to type it.










share|improve this question









New contributor




CJL is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Every time I log into a VM with root, su into a user account, and try to use screen it throws an error:



Cannot open your terminal '/dev/pts/0' - please check.


A Stack Overflow post said I needed to use script /dev/null to fix it, and it works, but it still doesn't explain why I need to type script /dev/null. I would like to understand what it does and why I need to type it.







terminal gnu-screen su pty






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edited Apr 9 at 11:47









törzsmókus

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asked Apr 8 at 16:04









CJLCJL

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  • 2





    > A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

    – törzsmókus
    Apr 9 at 11:01














  • 2





    > A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

    – törzsmókus
    Apr 9 at 11:01








2




2





> A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

– törzsmókus
Apr 9 at 11:01





> A Stack Overflow post said – it might be helpful if you also add a link to that post, maybe in a comment.

– törzsmókus
Apr 9 at 11:01










1 Answer
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You cannot open /dev/pts/0 because it's owned by root, and after you su-ed into another user you're no longer able to open it via its path, but you're still able to use it via the opened handle to it, which was inherited from the parent process.



script /dev/null will create another pty, owned by the current user.



Anyways, that bug/limitation seems to have been fixed in recent versions of screen (eg. 4.99.0), which will correctly send the handle to the current terminal via the SCM_RIGHTS ancillary message on a unix domain socket, instead of sending just the name of the terminal and have the screen server try to open it (and fail). Same thing with tmux.






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    1 Answer
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    active

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    1 Answer
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    active

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    active

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    active

    oldest

    votes









    27














    You cannot open /dev/pts/0 because it's owned by root, and after you su-ed into another user you're no longer able to open it via its path, but you're still able to use it via the opened handle to it, which was inherited from the parent process.



    script /dev/null will create another pty, owned by the current user.



    Anyways, that bug/limitation seems to have been fixed in recent versions of screen (eg. 4.99.0), which will correctly send the handle to the current terminal via the SCM_RIGHTS ancillary message on a unix domain socket, instead of sending just the name of the terminal and have the screen server try to open it (and fail). Same thing with tmux.






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      27














      You cannot open /dev/pts/0 because it's owned by root, and after you su-ed into another user you're no longer able to open it via its path, but you're still able to use it via the opened handle to it, which was inherited from the parent process.



      script /dev/null will create another pty, owned by the current user.



      Anyways, that bug/limitation seems to have been fixed in recent versions of screen (eg. 4.99.0), which will correctly send the handle to the current terminal via the SCM_RIGHTS ancillary message on a unix domain socket, instead of sending just the name of the terminal and have the screen server try to open it (and fail). Same thing with tmux.






      share|improve this answer




























        27












        27








        27







        You cannot open /dev/pts/0 because it's owned by root, and after you su-ed into another user you're no longer able to open it via its path, but you're still able to use it via the opened handle to it, which was inherited from the parent process.



        script /dev/null will create another pty, owned by the current user.



        Anyways, that bug/limitation seems to have been fixed in recent versions of screen (eg. 4.99.0), which will correctly send the handle to the current terminal via the SCM_RIGHTS ancillary message on a unix domain socket, instead of sending just the name of the terminal and have the screen server try to open it (and fail). Same thing with tmux.






        share|improve this answer















        You cannot open /dev/pts/0 because it's owned by root, and after you su-ed into another user you're no longer able to open it via its path, but you're still able to use it via the opened handle to it, which was inherited from the parent process.



        script /dev/null will create another pty, owned by the current user.



        Anyways, that bug/limitation seems to have been fixed in recent versions of screen (eg. 4.99.0), which will correctly send the handle to the current terminal via the SCM_RIGHTS ancillary message on a unix domain socket, instead of sending just the name of the terminal and have the screen server try to open it (and fail). Same thing with tmux.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Apr 8 at 18:04

























        answered Apr 8 at 16:47









        mosvymosvy

        10k11236




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