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I have been using Ubuntu and managed to get rid of the Unity desktop. However, I have now found that there are instances where files cannot be removed even by root. An example is /var/log/snort. This is unacceptable so I am looking for an OS that does not have this problem. I need an OS where root has full control over all files and directories. However, being of limited means I am looking for a free OS and would welcome recommendations.
I'm no great fan of Ubuntu, but I don't think the reasons you have stated for not using it are particularly valid. Are you interested in keeping Ubuntu if you could solve these perceived problems?
Snort is there to protect you, but if you don't like it, uninstall it.
But rather than have to replace Unity every time you get a new Ubuntu, wouldn't it be easier to get Mint? You get all of Ubuntu's software, any bugs in the installation disk are filtered out, and you get extra configuration tools.
This is unacceptable so I am looking for an OS that does not have this problem. I need an OS where root has full control over all files and directories.
If you're just looking to get root in Ubuntu, that's easy:
I have been using Ubuntu and managed to get rid of the Unity desktop.
There's probably not much point in running 'buntu if you don't like the unity shell. Maybe switch to one of the KDE, Xfce or LXDE, spins or have a look for another distribution (plenty out there).
Distribution: Debian Wheezy, Jessie, Sid/Experimental, playing with LFS.
Posts: 2,900
Rep:
Why not go to the actual start of over 300 distros, including Ubuntu and Mint, and use Debian? If you are used to the Ubuntu (read Debian) system of working then use the original system and try Debian.
I'm no great fan of Ubuntu, but I don't think the reasons you have stated for not using it are particularly valid. Are you interested in keeping Ubuntu if you could solve these perceived problems?
Evo2.
There is a lot to be said for "better the devil you know". While I don't like Unity, it has been easy to get rid of. The root permissions problem is my overriding concern. Would it exist in any Linux distro.?
Snort is there to protect you, but if you don't like it, uninstall it.
I had installed Snort but uninstalled it in order to install a later version. The installation did not complete, even using sudo, because of the files in /var/log/snort. I managed to remove the contents of /var/log/snort, as I described above, but not the directory itself. I was then able to run the installation of snort a bit further but I got error messages. Running
Code:
sudo apt-get install snort
resulted in
Code:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
snort-doc
The following NEW packages will be installed:
snort
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/473 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1,339 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 402348 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking snort (from .../snort_2.8.5.2-9.1_i386.deb) ...
usermod: no changes
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for ureadahead ...
ureadahead will be reprofiled on next reboot
Setting up snort (2.8.5.2-9.1) ...
* Stopping Network Intrusion Detection System snort * - No running snort instance found
* Starting Network Intrusion Detection System snort [fail]
invoke-rc.d: initscript snort, action "start" failed.
dpkg: error processing snort (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Errors were encountered while processing:
snort
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Subsequently,
Code:
sudo snort -d -l ./log -c snort.conf
resulted in
Code:
ERROR: Unable to open rules file "snort.conf": No such file or directory.
So it looked like the new version of snort was installed but the installation was incomplete.
Quote:
But rather than have to replace Unity every time you get a new Ubuntu, wouldn't it be easier to get Mint? You get all of Ubuntu's software, any bugs in the installation disk are filtered out, and you get extra configuration tools.
I have not updated to the newest Ubuntu (still use 11.10) because I am not optimistic that there will be any improvements.
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