Can't link to files in /usr/bin, but can copy

[phssthpok2]

On Ubuntu 20.04, I am trying to create hard links to some essential tools in /usr/bin for use inside a chroot jail. When I try, I get an "Operation not permitted" error. My current workaround is to copy the necessary files to my home directory, and then create links to them there whenever I construct the jail, but of course they won't get updated if the originals do.

Why is this happening, and is there any way around it?

[mIk3_08]

Did you try to use this command;

sudo chmod

as administrative user to acquiring root permissions?
super user do is very important in Ubuntu Linux Operating System this is the administrator command and a powerful command among Ubuntu users
Now that you have the power, be sure to be safe when you issue your commands. I don't think there is a su-undo, just becareful. Good Luck.

[scorp123]

Did you try to use this command;

sudo chmod

Why that command?? He doesn't need to take ownership. Everything inside /usr/bin belongs to "root". Anything else is asking for trouble.

[scorp123]

Hardlinks have to be on the same filesystem, because you're basically addressing the same inodes on the disk, just with 2 x (or more) different filenames at the same time. If source and target filesystems are not on the same disks then hardlinks will fail. Did you try symbolic links? Will those work for your purpose?

[HermanAB]

A hardlink is just another name for the same file. It cannot work across different partitions/file systems. Technically, it could work on multiple disks if the disks form an array, with one file system across them all.

[phssthpok2]

A hardlink is just another name for the same file. It cannot work across different partitions/file systems.

/usr/bin and the directory under /home where my sandboxes go are both within the root directory mounted on /dev/sda5 according to df.

[phssthpok2]

Did you try to use this command;

sudo chmod

as administrative user to acquiring root permissions?
super user do is very important in Ubuntu Linux Operating System this is the administrator command and a powerful command among Ubuntu users
Now that you have the power, be sure to be safe when you issue your commands. I don't think there is a su-undo, just becareful. Good Luck.

This doesn't help because (a) I don't want to use sudo (or setuid root!) to run the script to create my sandboxes, and (b) I have r-x access to everything in /usr/bin and write access to the directory I'm trying to create the link in, which should be enough.

[phssthpok2]

Symbolic links won't work from inside a chroot jail.

[SeijiSensei]

I've run a few programs in chroot environments. I've always had to copy over anything I needed from /etc, /lib, etc., into the equivalent locations in the jail. No links, but actual copies of the files.

[scorp123]

Symbolic links won't work from inside a chroot jail.

Riiight, I forgot about the jail part. Alternative: Docker containers maybe? I find they are easier to work with than jails anyway...