Ubuntu actually isn't that bad (just enable root login as soon as its installed)

mostlyharmless · 11-18-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

But isn't this in contradiction to the advice of Ubuntu community/developers/etc....

Yes, and if you mention it or post about it on the ubuntu forum they'll censure you.

EricTRA · 11-18-2009, 03:16 PM

So much for 'freedom'

tuxdev · 11-18-2009, 03:24 PM

Logging in as root to do anything but sysadmin stuff is a contradiction to the entire *nix world.

repo · 11-18-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricTRA

That's right, reading the original post, one can assume that he's logged in as root, and thus the system will not ask for a password when executing system utilities.
Eric

The OP post this kind of discussion every 3 or 4 weeks :-)

linus72 · 11-18-2009, 03:31 PM

I make everyone of my remixes so that the user can both login as root or login as user with access to root stuff; file manager,etc

Running as root (responsibly) is a absolute necessity in order to really learn Linux
as far as I am concerned.

I still haven't made a normal user in my slack 12.2 setup
I just run as root and use that system to do whatever maintenance,etc

EricTRA · 11-18-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72

I make everyone of my remixes so that the user can both login as root or login as user with access to root stuff; file manager,etc

That's the spirit, freedom of choice!

I guess I'm just a power junkie, don't have any user except root on my personal systems. My wife's laptop with Ubuntu has a 'normal' user, otherwise I'd have to spend to much time fixing broken things.

phil.d.g · 11-18-2009, 03:36 PM

By default only users that are members of the admin group can use sudo.

If you want to give someone else access to your machine then they should use an account that isn't a member of admin so they can't sudo anything.

Accounts that are members of the admin group should be considered privileged accounts and only very trusted people should have one of these. sudo can give fine grain control for less trusted people that require some root access.

My root password is still locked, so I can't login as root directly. However, all my needs are met using sudo cmd or sudo -i. I don't have a problem with this setup, and I've never felt the need to have a complete root environment.

Just my 2 cents, do what you want it's your computer and data.

linus72 · 11-18-2009, 03:39 PM

One can make the "panel" so it launches root apps also
lxpanel, gnome panel, etc

heres part of my fluxbox menu for user, opening root apps

Code:

[begin]
  [submenu] (Root programs)
        [exec] (Root Eterm) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/bin/Eterm} <>
        [exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/sbin/synaptic} </usr/share/synaptic/pixmaps/synaptic_32x32.xpm>
        [exec] (PCMANFM) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/bin/pcmanfm} <>
        [exec] (Gimp) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/bin/gimp} </usr/share/pixmaps/gimp.xpm>
        [exec] (Gparted) {su-to-root -X -c /usr/sbin/gparted} <>
    [end]
  [end]
[end]

in order to add root-apps to panels, you gotta have gksu installed right?

smeezekitty · 11-18-2009, 04:10 PM

oh and you can open a root terminal and type rm -rf / and all it will do is say cannot remove root directory!

smeezekitty · 11-18-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

oh and you can open a root terminal and type rm -rf / and all it will do is say cannot remove root directory!

but i wouldnt try it

Bratmon · 11-18-2009, 07:20 PM

rm --no-preserve-root -rf /

smeezekitty · 11-18-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bratmon

rm --no-preserve-root -rf /

but you cannot do that my accedent

Bratmon · 11-19-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

but you cannot do that my accedent

If you try hard enough, you can do anything by accident.

jmite · 11-19-2009, 11:05 PM

I occasionally run things as root just to that when I run apps with gksu or gksudo, I can modify the theme so they're not ugly.

easuter · 11-20-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

Now that i enabled root login and routinely login as root, ubuntu is easy to use - and you should always have root login in case of need of system recovery.

Holy crap!

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72

I still haven't made a normal user in my slack 12.2 setup
I just run as root and use that system to do whatever maintenance,etc

Oh dear god!!

You may as well be using windows then....