KGpg install issues in Trusty 14.04

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by Palancar, Oct 8, 2014.

  1. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    Posts:
    2,402
    SOLVED SEE MY POST(S) BELOW


    I took Mirimir's advice and decided to give KGpg a look for the purpose of simple PGP encrypted private messages and text. No fancy options needed just - (encrypt, decrypt, sign). KGPG is a frontend for gnupg, which comes pre-installed on ubuntu Trusty (14.04). I am using 64 bit.

    I am using a Trusty VM to conduct different test installs, and therefore I can clean up by cloning fresh starts after failures to get this going. So far I have tried to install KGPG using the ubuntu software center directly, and then my second attempt (using another clean clone) was to use synaptic and do the install that way. In both install procedures I used the "default" install path/place and changed nothing. Both installs appeared to go smoothly, but the icon on the launcher does not hit the correct target from what I suspect. Further, if I bring up a terminal and run sudo kgpg I see the following errors:

    /var/tmp/kdecache-user is owned by uid 1000 instead of uid 0

    also a software box stating that /home/user/.gnupg/gpg.conf has unsafe ownership bla bla bla

    I suspect that somehow gnupg and Kgpg are not communicating with each other but I don't know how to diagnose this. I have discovered that uid 0 is root so it appears that the uid 1000 flag means its looking for root and it isn't that.

    Is there some linux command where I could chown Kgpg/gnupg from uid 1000 to 0 and that would make this program work? I don't like running too much stuff at root so I am open to any suggestions. I really can't imagine that PGP would need root to work.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2014
  2. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2011
    Posts:
    9,252
    Oops :(

    I recommended it because it's in the Ubuntu repo. But I don't (won't) use Ubuntu 14.04, and I have no clue what's broken. I've always used it on Debian with KDE, where it's native. Actually, that's been mostly on Whonix.

    I used to use GNU Privacy Assistant in Ubuntu, but it's not been in the repo for a while. You could try compiling it from ftp://ftp.gnupg.org/gcrypt/gpa//.

    Maybe the best course would be to ask on the gnupg-users list.
     
  3. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    Posts:
    2,402
    Mirimir,

    I am headed out to do some "recon" on this issue today. It shouldn't be in the repositories unless it works on the OS and its clearly there! I submit it may well be operator error on my end. I am having fun tracking down the "break", although its frustrating too! My wild hunch is that the KGpg installer package is placing the software in the wrong place for 14.04. The user vs root error flags that are popping up lend credence to that thought.

    Stay tuned!!
     
  4. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    Posts:
    2,402
    SOLVED!!!!!!

    I have KGpg working like a champ on 14.04 64 bit now. Took some research to understand what happened, but anyway let me just highlight the simple process in case anyone else here wants to run PGP from the KGpg gui using 14.04.

    The solution involves adding a command line switch ------ > -k to a command line, but before you do that you have to chown it to the user so you can edit the line, and then chown it back to root (I returned it to root anyway just to be sure).

    Steps/notes:

    1. Install KGpg from the Ubuntu Software Center (repositories)

    2. You will see the icon in the launcher but it won't work until you do the following fix

    3. KGpg will place the kde4 folder at root but we need to get the Kgpg icon (inside the kde4 folder) command line changed. My solution was to take ownership at the user level, do the change, and then change ownership back to root [There are many ways to skin a cat, but this was my method].

    4. take ownership in terminal--> sudo chown user:user /usr/share/applications/kde4/kgpg.desktop

    5. Now go into the filesystem using the path above and you will see the yellow icon in the kde4 folder.

    6. Right click the icon - properties - and you will see the command kgpg %U

    7. ******* Add the -k switch to the command ---- > kpgp %U -k

    8. Now KGpg should work properly but check it to be sure. When confirmed working my suggestion is to revert ownership back.

    9. assign root ownership back ---> sudo chown root:root usr/share/applications/kde4/kgpg.desktop

    10. Very simple process and its working seamlessly at this point.



    **Mirimir - thanks for the suggestion. I love this GUI and its FAST as can be.


    ps -- there is reading galore as to why this works, but for those that just want a working product, just perform this procedure and start encrypting away!!!!!!!
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2014
  5. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2011
    Posts:
    9,252
    Congratulations :thumb:

    It's still good to learn at least some of the command line, but not urgent.
     
  6. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
    Posts:
    2,402
    I think this will likely be my last post on this thread unless someone brings up a question to be answered.

    IF a user simply wants to make KGpg work (on 64 bit 14.04) and doesn't really care about checking "under the hood", there is a much quicker way to perform the command line edit. Accordingly:

    sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/kde4/kgpg.desktop

    Exec line observation; kgpg %U

    just add the -k edit and save. kpgp %U -k

    After this one simple edit it hums along native and smooth.
     
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.