# Undocumented shell command in image builder docs **URL:** \ **Category:** Talk about Documentation\ **Created:** [March 3, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783 "2022-03-03T18:38:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harpia](https://forum.openwrt.org/user_avatar/forum.openwrt.org/harpia/32/134738_2.png) [@harpia](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/harpia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/1 "2022-03-03T18:38:43Z")
The shell command below is at [https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/additional-software/imagebuilder?rev=1639962402#restricting\_root\_access](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/additional-software/imagebuilder?rev=1639962402#restricting_root_access) (currently with revision 1639962402) `touch /etc/environment` I have no idea why this is needed. I went through all those commands but skipped this one. Everything still worked as expected. Can anyone explain it? It might be a good idea to add a comment there. ---
**Author:** ![hnyman](https://forum.openwrt.org/user_avatar/forum.openwrt.org/hnyman/32/19_2.png) [@hnyman](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/hnyman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/2 "2022-03-03T19:02:00Z")
> [@harpia](#): > > touch /etc/environment > [@harpia](#): > > Can anyone explain it? Possibly @vgaetera can explain the purpose, as he added that segment in September 2021. Edit: Googling for that file shows info that it is usually systemwide environment variables, but I have no clear idea why touching it (creating an empty file) helps in restricting non-root access. Preventing non-root users from creating it later? ---
**Author:** ![RuralRoots](https://forum.openwrt.org/letter_avatar/ruralroots/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuralRoots](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/RuralRoots)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/3 "2022-03-03T19:04:04Z")
> [@harpia](#): > > touch /etc/environment Sets or creates the current time/date of the file `/etc/environment` FWIW, not existing here. But that's what it does. ---
**Author:** ![anomeome](https://forum.openwrt.org/user_avatar/forum.openwrt.org/anomeome/32/15002_2.png) [@anomeome](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/anomeome)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/4 "2022-03-03T19:26:49Z")
Presumably _sudo_ is checking / wants file extent. ---
**Author:** ![vgaetera](https://forum.openwrt.org/user_avatar/forum.openwrt.org/vgaetera/32/113586_2.png) [@vgaetera](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/vgaetera)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/5 "2023-04-23T17:16:49Z")
There was a [persistent error](https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/sudo-started-complaining-about-missing-etc-environment-4175662768/#post6048177): > [@](#): > > ```bash > > sudo -i > sudo: /etc/environment: No such file or directory > > ``` But I can no longer reproduce it on the current stable OpenWrt release, so removed the line. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.openwrt.org/uploads/default/original/3X/7/4/740520c71f00039bbf001045c682f0ecb25e905a.png) [@system](https://forum.openwrt.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.openwrt.org/t/undocumented-shell-command-in-image-builder-docs/121783/6 "2023-05-03T17:17:01Z")
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