getting to /usr but not /compat/usr from a linux app

[Kevin Brunelle]

On Wednesday 28 June 2006 13:53, Charles Swiger wrote:
> On Jun 28, 2006, at 1:21 PM, Fernan Aguero wrote:
> > I'm using Linux Firefox, and when asked to choose a helper
> > app to open a document I try to navigate to /usr/X11R6/bin
> > but I always end up in /compat/linux/usr/X11R6/bin instead
> > (though firefox believes it's /usr/X11R6/bin).
> >
> > I can see why this happens (linux apps should be fooled into
> > using their 'compat' usr space), but is there any way of
> > escaping from this?
>
> The Linux app is being run inside of a chroot()ed environment in
> order to give the appearance that they are running in a "real Linux
> system"; you can't escape a chroot() environment (hopefully), but you
> could create hard links or copy files from the FreeBSD /usr/X11R6/bin
> to the Linux environment...

This is not 'exactly' true.  The program is not being run in a chroot 
environment.  Easily demonstrated by the fact that linux programs can access 
file in user's home directories without any difficulty.   There are other 
ways to show this... but the main thing is distinct paths.  The programs 
default to /compat/linux/whatever if whatever exists in both places.

You really just need to specify enough of the path manually that the program 
sees the file outside of /compat/linux.  For example, I had to type the 
complete path for "/usr/X11R6/bin/acroread" into one program for it to show 
up.  But once the complete path is there, the program doesn't have a problem 
with it.

If you get to a part where the program seem stuck  (you know there is a 
different directory you need to enter but you're in the /C/L tree, and all 
you have is a place to type the filename... try 'directory/<enter>' and most 
programs take the hint and move you up.

Hope this helps.

-kevin