Editing Files Like /etc/hosts

Editing Files Like /etc/hosts

[Annamalai Gurusami]

Hi All,

Suppose I am currently logged in as a normal user, and am using emacs
for editing some files.  And while in the middle of such an emacs
session, I would like to change the file /etc/hosts.  How can I open
this file such that I can edit it?  

If I do something like this

C-x C-f /root@localhost:/etc/hosts RET

I am getting login incorrect, because I think by default we cannot
login as 'root' in a ftp session.

Environment: 'GNU Emacs 21.3.2' on 'Slackware 10.0.0'.

Rgds,
anna

-- 

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.  
Build anyway.     http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com

Re: Editing Files Like /etc/hosts

[Bill Wohler]

Annamalai Gurusami <annamalai.gurusami@EMAIL.masconit.com> writes:

> Suppose I am currently logged in as a normal user, and am using emacs
> for editing some files.  And while in the middle of such an emacs
> session, I would like to change the file /etc/hosts.  How can I open
> this file such that I can edit it?  

I usually have another Emacs session run by root for such things, but
I would be curious to hear if I could use my non-root session as well.

-- 
Bill Wohler <wohler@newt.com>  http://www.newt.com/wohler/  GnuPG ID:610BD9AD
Maintainer of comp.mail.mh FAQ and MH-E. Vote Libertarian!
If you're passed on the right, you're in the wrong lane.

Re: Editing Files Like /etc/hosts

[Michael Albinus]

Annamalai Gurusami <annamalai.gurusami@EMAIL.masconit.com> writes:

> Hi All,

Hi,

>
> Suppose I am currently logged in as a normal user, and am using emacs
> for editing some files.  And while in the middle of such an emacs
> session, I would like to change the file /etc/hosts.  How can I open
> this file such that I can edit it?  
>
> If I do something like this
>
> C-x C-f /root@localhost:/etc/hosts RET
>
> I am getting login incorrect, because I think by default we cannot
> login as 'root' in a ftp session.

You might try Tramp <http://www.gnu.org/software/tramp/>. Then you
could edit something like "/su:root@localhost:/etc/hosts" (or
"/su::/etc/hosts" in short).

> Rgds,
> anna

Best regards, Michael.