The OpenEdge Installer requires the user to be logged in as root (with UID 0) on Unix and administrator on Windows. The install program requires root/admin privilege to set the proper file permissions on Progress executables as some require to be run as root/admin.
Unix: Using root ownership bypasses many limitations and restrictions imposed by the UNIX security system on a normal account.
The UNIX security system can result in some of these types of problems if the OpenEdge (OE) installation's ownership is changed to a non-root account.
- Connecting to the database using shared memory connections (shared memory access / file system access issues).
- Loose some database administration capability to 'signal' database server processes.
- Cannot serve or connect to the database because the Operating System's process limits (ulimit) prohibit opening all the files.
The following error will occur if the installation is ran as a user other than root:
"You must be logged in as root to perform the OpenEdge Software Installation."
Windows: Administrator privileges are needed to write to locations that are shared by multiple users. In the filesystem, this means folders like \Windows or \Program Files. In the registry, this means all of the hives that are not per-user. Administrator privileges are needed if trying to write to any registry keys besides HKEY CURRENT USER.
Defect PSC00340922 is a documentation defect. The defect has been logged to include the explanation of why root is required when performing an OpenEdge Installation on UNIX added to the OpenEdge UNIX Installation Guide.
It was determined that the Progress Product is functioning as designed where OpenEdge Installs/Updates must be done as users with root/administrator privileges.
An enhancement to the product can be requested through the Progress Community via an Ideas submission. Customer feedback is valuable and Idea submissions are monitored by our Product Management team. Enhancement requests are reviewed during the planning phase of each new product release and a list of the enhancements chosen for implementation can be found in the Release Notes documents that accompany each release. Once an Idea is submitted the Progress Software Community will have the opportunity to comment on and vote for the Idea.
For detailed information on how to submit an Idea, please refer to Article
How to submit an enhancement request for a Progress product?.
