You have been subscribed to a public bug by Robert Roth (evfool):
On my Ubuntu 10.04 test machine I created a secundary account called
"test". Then I logged on with this secundary account and started Update
Manager. I cliked the Check button and the Update Manager asked for a
password. I'm used to entering the password of my primary account, so
now I also entered the password of my primary account. Then it said
"Reading package information" for a second and that's all. It didn't
search for updates.
As I said I accidentally entered the password of my primary account, but
it looked like it did something (because of the "Reading package
information), but it didn't search for updates.
Then I clicked the Check button again, but this time I entered the
password of the secundary account I just created. This time I got a
error telling me "Failed to run /usr/sbin/synaptic '--hide-main-window'
'--non-interactive' '--parent-window-id' '31457319' '--update-at-
startup' as user root.
The underlying authorisation mechanism (sudo) does not allow you to run
this program. Contact the system administrator."
In the user settings I see the secundary user doesn't have permission to
"Administer the system", so it looks like a secundary user indeed isn't
allowed to search for updates updates.
Then I logged out and now logged back on with my primary account. I
searched for updates, logged out again and logged back on with the
secundary account. Then I started Update Manager and it showed the
available updates, although it was impossible to install them.
If a secundary user isn't allowed to install updates, why does it show
an error with so many information? Why doesn't it just show an error
saying: "You're not allowed to search for updates." and "You're not
allowed to install updates."?
Why is it possible to enter the password of my primary account when it
asks "Enter YOUR password to perform administrative tasks"? It doesn't
state it's possible to enter some elses password. Shouldn't I get an
error telling me "You entered an incorrect password." when I enter
someone elses password?
So, it's possible to enter the password of someone elses account. Then
why doesn't anything happen? I don't get an error, so Update Manager
accepts the password of my primary account. Then why doesn't it install
the updates using my primary account?
If it's impossible to use Update Manager when logged on with a secundary
account, why is Update Manager shown in the list System >
Administration? Should objects just be hidden when the currently logged
on user isn't able to use them? Why should a user be able to start an
application it just can't use?
Or another solution: Why doesn't it say "Enter the user name and
password of someone with enough privileges to perform administrative
tasks." instead of "Enter your password to perform administrative
tasks." The currently logged on user doesn't have enough privileges to
install updates, so why does it ask for the password of this user?
** Affects: policykit
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Affects: update-manager
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
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Update Manager doesn't work when launched from a secundary account
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/560391
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