Linux - (APRS/SIMPLEUI) Binding sockets without root privledges

[kb1lqd]

Summary

Previously for linux users it was not known (in general/documentation) how to start proxy without running sudo (or with root privileges). This is annoying at best and also makes automation scripts difficult. This issue ticket is to be used to explain how to open proxy connections to Faraday units without root privileges.

Problem Explanation

APRS and SimpleUI fail due to binding to in-use ports (telemetry/proxy) As a precaution most/all ports in use should be added to the current users permissions to bind. This can be accomplished by using authbind and setting specific user/port permissions.

(Example below uses my user account brent for reference only)

Install authbind:

• sudo apt-get install authbind

Create filer for port 8001 for authbind to use:

• sudo touch /etc/authbind/byport/8001

Change owner of new file to user brent (use your own user account as needed):

sudo chown brent:brent /etc/authbind/byport/8001

Change filer permissions:

sudo chown 755 /etc/authbind/byport/8001

SimpleUI will now be able to bind to port 8001 when run by user brent

References

• https://superuser.com/questions/710253/allow-non-root-process-to-bind-to-port-80-and-443
• https://debian-administration.org/article/386/Running_network_services_as_a_non-root_user

This information should:

• Be included in documentation
• Be stated in relevant scripts/programs opening proxy to allow easier debugging.

Environment

Software

• Faraday
  • Master
• Linux
  • Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Hardware

N/A

Supporting Information

An example of faraday-simpleui not opening properly due to socket binding permissions of the in-use user account.

After setting up user permissions the script below successfully opened the programs (including faraday-simpleui).

References