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Andrés Muñoz
Asked: 2020-02-16 10:44:51 +0800 CST 2020-02-16 10:44:51 +0800 CST

What is it for and what is the use of the os.chroot function?

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I came across the function os.chroot()and well if I understand that it is to change the root, but I wonder what I want/is it for changing the root, that is, what is the use of this function?

python

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    What is it for?

    According to the documentation, the function os.chroot():

    Changes the root directory of the current process to the specified path. Availability: Unix.

    This command what you do is call the command chroot(2):

    $ apropos chroot
chroot (2)           - change root directory
chroot (8)           - run command or interactive shell with special root directory
ischroot (1)         - detect if running in a chroot

    Processes in Unix-like systems have their own Current Working Directory, which is also known as the Root Directory, by changing the Root Directory of a process with os.chroot()you change it also for all its child processes that can be to create.

    To see the Root Directory of a process you can use the command pwdxthat receives the PID of the process. For example:

    $ pgrep mysqld
1275
$ pwdx 1275
1275: /var/lib/mysql

    This process of modifying the Root Directory is known as "chroot jail" or "chroot cage" since it prevents the process and its threads (children) from accessing a level higher than the specified one.

    What uses does it have?

    Basically the idea is to isolate a process to:

    • development and testing
    • Dependency control
    • Separation of privileges
    • Compatibility
    • Recovery

    References

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