[SOLVED] Root password no longer works?

wpeckham · 05-30-2017, 05:37 AM

So, is it logging into the gui as root that is failing?
or
Is it logging into the machine from a remote session using ssh that is failing?
or
Something else?

As a matter of security, I always set my servers to block root logon except at the local console. An unpriviledged account is required for logon, and su or sudo is used for escalation to root. While workstations and laptops do not get that attention from me, many Unix and Linux vendors set that automatically. These days I would call that expected behavior.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeckham

OK, this is just confusing. Let us see if we can clear this up.

In a terminal, you can log in as a user then use

Code:

su -

to become the root user, right?

When that works, you are seeing the root password work just fine.
Then I use passwd that allows me to change the password. The terminal only allows the original password to work and not the new one.

Under what conditions do you see it NOT work?

That's it in a nutshell. Then when I try to boot up as root it doesn't work nor, does it work when I try to change from a user to the root user.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeckham

So, is it logging into the gui as root that is failing?
or
Is it logging into the machine from a remote session using ssh that is failing?
or
Something else?

As a matter of security, I always set my servers to block root logon except at the local console. An unpriviledged account is required for logon, and su or sudo is used for escalation to root. While workstations and laptops do not get that attention from me, many Unix and Linux vendors set that automatically. These days I would call that expected behavior.

No logging as root in the gui start up screen or when I try to change from a user to the root user.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Ok sounds like a good plan.

I found this video mentioned in my Red Hat book. May or may not work on Fedora?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srJSupBLuAI

Last thing I could think of.-

Have a nice Memorial Day!

Have done all that still doesn't work.
I am going to try it again as I didn't use Ctrl D. Since the screen does not follow correctly on the video I followe the Centos version which showed correctly. It finishes with exit exit. whereas the Redhat version finishes with Ctrl D.

Thanks.

descendant_command · 05-30-2017, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bscho

That's it in a nutshell. Then when I try to boot up as root it doesn't work nor, does it work when I try to change from a user to the root user.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bscho

No logging as root in the gui start up screen or when I try to change from a user to the root user.

This still makes no sense and it is not clear what, exactly, you are doing or expecting.
Try describing, exactly, step by step, what you see, type and click, and the verbatim output you receive.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by descendant_command

This still makes no sense and it is not clear what, exactly, you are doing or expecting.
Try describing, exactly, step by step, what you see, type and click, and the verbatim output you receive.

Sorry, everyone else gets it. Thanks anyway for your post.

Teufel · 05-30-2017, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bscho

No logging as root in the gui start up screen or when I try to change from a user to the root user.

It's normal. Gui login blocked for root. It enabled for regular user only.
If you want to run gui tools (e.g. file manager, text editor e.t.c.) with root privileges - use gksu (or kdesu) tool instead of trying to open root gui session.

And it isn't a password issue since su and sudo works in terminal.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teufel

It's normal. Gui login blocked for root. It enabled for regular user only.
If you want to run gui tools (e.g. file manager, text editor e.t.c.) with root privileges - use gksu (or kdesu) tool instead of trying to open root gui session.

And it isn't a password issue since su and sudo works in terminal.

It's not normal especially with Fedora. I assure you it is a password issue. Even an attempt to load Virtualbox as a user asks for the root password and it doesn't accept it.

Thanks

Teufel · 05-30-2017, 11:26 AM

it's normal that root not enabled to start gui session, it's default behaviour, though you may try to unblock root gui session:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Enabl...isplay_Manager

Did you try it? You could try it since su works for you.

bscho · 05-30-2017, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teufel

it's normal that root not enabled to start gui session, it's default behaviour, though you may try to unblock root gui session:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Enabl...isplay_Manager

Did you try it? You could try it since su works for you.

Thanks for that I was looking for something like that and I'll try it.

Doug G · 05-30-2017, 11:52 AM

My f25 Xfce certainly allows root GUI login. I just tried, and as root got a first-use message from Xfce (I guess I'd never tried a root login), and logged back out.

I haven't made any tweaks that might have changed this behavior from the default Fedora settings.

Ztcoracat · 05-30-2017, 12:54 PM

Let us know bscho if Teufel suggestion works:-

Thanks for the details Doug G.

What kernel is Fedora 25 using?

bscho · 05-30-2017, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Let us know bscho if Teufel suggestion works:-

Thanks for the details Doug G.

What kernel is Fedora 25 using?

Will do might have a chance as something I have not tried. Not on my machine at the moment.

How can I tell what Kernel I am using indeed I am not sure if I am using Fedora 25 or 26 as I loaded 25 but had an automatic upgrade and I think it was to 26?

Teufel · 05-30-2017, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bscho

How can I tell what Kernel I am using indeed I am not sure if I am using Fedora 25 or 26 as I loaded 25 but had an automatic upgrade and I think it was to 26?

Code:

uname -r

shows kernel version.

and probably

Quote:

uname -a

will show system version, though not sure.

Ztcoracat · 05-30-2017, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug G

If you're asking me, the only way I ever use yum/dnf is from a root terminal (su -). I've never had a problem. I have used dnf --system-upgrade and earlier fedup to do version upgrades, my main Fedora 25 workstation started life as a Fedora 20.

Oh, dnf update is deprecated, now it's dnf upgrade, although either works.

[EDIT]Oops, I see you addressed your queston to another poster, sorry for wasting time[/EDIT]

Thanks:-

Once I know what kernel Fedora 25 and Fedora 26 is using I'll see if there is anything mentioned about root login issues/changes in the change logs when I have time this evening.

What is the output of:

Code:

uname -r

?