rc init per user: I still don't understand...

sixtysixtysix · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Jun 2021 Posts: 86

Noob question here but honestly, I STILL cannot find a direct answer, despite I read the wiki carefully. The description there was a bit too brief for me...

I have a simple issue: I want my mpd instance to start as user (me) once I log in. I understood the bit about NOT invoking as root but quite honestly I still have zero idea of how I have a service start under rc_init "per user" as opposed to root.

It must be such a simple thing - would someone please be kind enough to provide an easy to follow full explanation? If possible I'd like it at login not on reboot, as obviously it's more common to log out (switch user) than to reboot.

Many thanks

eccerr0r · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 4:11 pm Post subject:

There are lots of ways to do this depending on what you use to login and the nature of the program.
1. Go to your desktop environment settings and add an "startup script" - usually the best option if you run a DE.
2. Add a line to your Xinit or Xsession if you use these - can break other stuff if you're not careful
3. Add a line into your shell startup like .bash_login, .login, .profile, etc. - does not work for things that require guis

Remember you may need to kill the process on logout or make sure you don't run it again so scripting may be necessary.

Sure you don't want to start during system startup? You can use 'su' to run it as a different user.
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sixtysixtysix · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Jun 2021 Posts: 86

Thank you for this

To be honest I think I'd gotten a bit lost in all the documentation - clearly adding a startup option for stuff in my DE is something I already do. Doh!

So, in the interests of further understanding: this being simply to have mpd running and available for whenever I might choose to start my media player (Cantata by choice), I wasn't aware that I could have mpd start at boot and yet NOT be run as root. Any further explanations welcome, but for now yes sure, I can simply add another start option to my DE.

BTW I chose to skip any login process, so while I run XFCE it boots directly to the desktop. Being the only user it seems daft having to keep entering a password.

Many thanks

fedeliallalinea · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 4:23 pm Post subject:

mpd openrc init script run as mpd user and audio group.
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sixtysixtysix · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Jun 2021 Posts: 86

cboldt · Veteran Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1046

See /etc/mpd.conf

That files is installed with the package. In that file you will find this ....

guitou · Guru Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 534 Location: France

Zucca · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 6:04 pm Post subject:

sixtysixtysix · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Jun 2021 Posts: 86

Thank you all for the further help and additional clarifications. I fear I may have muddied the waters slightly by being reasonably brief myself. I'm very happy to learn about this, so for further info/context:

In reading the Gentoo page on mpd I do NOT use a system-wide configuration, thus I referred mostly to this particular section:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/MPD#Per-user_configuration

I note, further to the helpful comments above, that it is possible/desirable to have mpd run at boot - I now understand (thank you) that by adding it to a run level (I hope that's the correct phrase?) I'm not actually running it as root.

The wiki says this regarding per-user config:

cboldt · Veteran Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1046

I just have mpd start as part of the normal machine starting sequence. It runs as user mpd and group audio, and that happened with zero effort on my part. It is the way the package installed. This command adds start of md to the machine startup sequence:

`rc-update add mpd default`

I typically brute force start and stop when there are issues, with direct command such as "/etc/init.d/mpd start" but there is a program part of openrc called "rc-service" that can also perform a service start without doing a reboot.

Not to say cronie isn't capable of the same thing. I limit cronie function to things to happen at set time of day - that's a personal choice, not a limitation of the cronie service. I also shun the "anacron" type function that cronie is capable of.

Edit to add: I just visited the wilki you cited. The "per user" section depends on the use of systemd for startup and services management. You are using openrc, not systemd. The two foundational system operation schemes are mutually exclusive. The "per user" instructions in the wiki don't apply to your current situation. The choice to use systemd can become a contentious subject. I'll say that I will refuse systemd for as long as I can. Openrc works for me, I understand it, and whatever the tradeoffs are between it and systemd don't give me any reason to switch. If I'd started on systemd and learned what's under THAT hood, I'd probably stay there.