Connect non-root user to router.
 

Using Ubuntu 9.04. The root user connects with no problem to my D-Link EBR-2310 wired router.

The everyday non-root user doesn't connect, when I check the connection it shows disconnected, running offline. I have searched and read a lot but haven't found the solution.

I prefer a graphical method if possible, I'm no good at typing long pages of instructions or commands. Thanks in advance.

Jim

J Harp, sorry for asking this but are you saying as root you can log in to your router but you cant do this as an ordinary user from your box running Ubuntu 9.04? Am just trying to understand the question...

Yes, when logged in as root I can connect to the router at 192.168.0.1.
I can surf the web with Firefox and do email with Thunderbird.

When logged in as user I can do none of the above. I don't get the overlapped monitor icon to the left of the speaker icon. If I click the bar graph icon, I get the notice that I'm disconnected and to enable the connection and try again. clicking the enable connection line has no effect.

It's clear that at the moment connecting to the router is a root-only privilege. Normally the way you deal with this is to run your system configuration program and specify that normal users can connect and disconnect the router.

Unfortunately I don't run Ubuntu, but on Fedora I know exactly how to perform this authorization change. It involves temporarily acquiring root privileges, changing one setting in the system setup dialog, and becoming a normal user again. It is very likely that a similar procedure works on Ubuntu, and it shouldn't involve typing into a configuration file.

Still no luck. Here is what I have tried three times.
log in as root, click system > administration > users and groups > click unlock > enter root password > click authenticate > right click username > click properties > click the user priveliges tab > click connect to wireless and ethernet networks > click OK > click close.

After that if I log in as user I'm still disconnected, can't connect to the router.

Ubuntu has the root account disabled by default, so I'm guessing you enabled the account. I have seen the same issue with it showing the network as disconnected, but it still works. Is your problem that it just doesn't show connected or that it actually doesn't work? Is your user account in the sudoer file? When you do anything that needs root priviledges it should prompt you for your password.

1. Don't log into the Ubuntu dekstop as root -- ever. Log in as an ordinary user.

2. Run the system configuration program, and when you get to an option that requires root authority, you will be asked for the root password. Make the desired change.

3. Log out and in again, still as an ordinary user. Check the configuration and make sure the change you made is still present. If it isn't, this means you exited without clicking "Apply". Do it again.

4. If all seems in order, try accessing the resource in question.

5. If you still cannot use it, look in /var/log/messages to see if there are any error messages relevant to the issue.

Again, and I mean this for everyone reading, do not log into a Linux desktop as root. It is a recipe for trouble.

From the above answers I'm beginning to get the idea that maybe I was wrong in assuming that the first user I entered was the root user. If that is not the root, then I don't have a problem and won't need any other usernames.

adm1329; I have not knowingly enabled root. I don't know about the subdoer file, I'll check on it tomorrow when I get back on the linux computer, have to go out of town today. I'm on a windows computer now but it's not available to me most times.

lutusp; The whole idea of enabling connections on the second user was to avoid using root, I'm aware that it shouldn't be done, however using the first user I set up (root or not) was the only way I could ask my questions on this forum.
Could I have a walk thru on running the system configuration program (where to find it and how to run it)? I am a total newbie on Linux and have no programming training or experience, I need to learn and would appreciate any help I can get.

With the 'buntu's the first user to be created is just that, the first user, but they are special in that they can become root with the sudo -i command (and then give your password) (try it now, in a terminal, see how your prompt has changed? exit to cease being root).

Other users can be created, but they do not necessarily have the same rights and privileges as the first user. They need to be granted these rights, usually by root, or the first user, using the sudo command.

Please, login as the first user and tell us the output of the command groups in a terminal.
Then login as the "other" user and again tell us the output of the command groups

I suspect your second user does not belong to some group that it needs to belong to in order to use the network.

tredegar; I believe you have hit the nail on the head. I tried sudo -i, and see what you mean there. When I did alt=f2 and typed in groups I got a different list for each user. The only way I got anything readable was by clicking run with file. Copy and paste doesn't work for me in this case, so I'll try to type them.

First user.

Desktop
Documents
firefox
Music
Pictures
Templates
thunderbird
Videos
D-Link Screenshot.odt
examples.desktop
Test.odt

The time and date modified is shown to the right of each entry.

Other user.

Desktop
Documents
Music
Pictures
Public
Templates
Videos
examples.desktop

Thank you very much.

Can anyone recommend a good Ubuntu specific book which is in plain language and geared for the everyday user rather than for programmers and developers? Not putting programmers and developers down, we have to have them, but some of us newbies don't catch on as quickly as others, and could use some more elementary instruction. Thanks

OK
What?
No, this is a list of the directories belonging to each user.

You need to open a terminal. It gives you a black & white "DOS type" screen where you can type commands. If you MUST use Alt-F2 then enter xterm, and you should get a terminal, but a variety of terminals will be on your menu(s).

Open a terminal. Type groups and tell us what the list is for each user.

You can copy & paste from the terminal into LQ's Reply box:
Highlight the text you want to copy in the terminal window, then middle-click (or both L&R buttons at the same time) in the reply box. The text is copied.

Post your results.

Ok lets see If I can do better this time. Here is the first user.

jim3744harp@Jim:~$ groups
jim3744harp adm dialout cdrom plugdev admin sambashare
jim3744harp@Jim:~$

Typo? Won't the user be asked for their own password -- because it works via sudo rather than su?

Excellent :)
Now, how about the other user?

What I got for the other user which doesn't connect, so entered by typing.

barb10jim09@jim:~$groups
barb10jim09 adm dialout fax cdrom floppy tape audio dip video plugdev fuse netdev
barb10jim09@jim:!$