Disable/Enable Root Login @ Console

ryanstrayer · 01-17-2002, 02:29 PM

I have a simple question in terms of how to do something. I am running Mandrake Linux 8.1, and have set my security level to paranoid. During this process, it disabled root login from the console, which I ususally don't have a problem with.

At this point, I am completely stumpted as to how it did it. I checked the securetty, access.conf and other related files in the /etc/security directory, and have found nothing relating to the restriction of root to login at the console.

Any help is appreciate!

ForumKid · 01-17-2002, 02:33 PM

If tty1-tty6 is commented out in securetty, i think thats your problem. Thats the file that restricts where root can log in. There might be something else, but take a look there first to make sure its not all commented out.

I hope this helps.

ryanstrayer · 01-17-2002, 02:42 PM

Well the was nothing in the securetty file, so I added in tty1 and tty2 to test your suggestion, and to no evail, it still didn't work. Each time I try to login as root it still tells me incorrect password, so something is still preventing it... ?

I thought for sure that was it, and that maybe I was thinking dislexic again.. :-)

ForumKid · 01-18-2002, 09:19 AM

So you can login at console as someone else and then su to root??????????

ryanstrayer · 01-18-2002, 04:49 PM

Yes.. that I was able to do.

I'm still not sure what the heck was going on. I reran the script to enable it again, and it took out whatever it had put in. I have sinced disabled root access the proper way, so at least I can enable it again if I need to.