Root Account Not Showing At Login...
 

Hello all... I just installed Debian 6 on a server and when the server powers up, it shows me all the accounts I created in order for me to choose and login under an account, except for the root account. At the colo where the server is going, they need the root account at the login screen. Thanks

This is the xwindows login? You should never run x as root. If you need to run graphical tools as root you should sudo or su to root from a normal account.

Don't think I'm hijacking thread by asking: Does this mean that one should not become root when inside X - X having been started as an ordinary user? You know, it is always encouraging you to give the root password, to install updates for instance, and it always worries me.

Yep i know, but the colo network admins demand that there may be a way for them to log in as root if they need to. They are used to CentOS and are not used to Debian. Thanks

well then they should flip to a virtual console and log in there. If these "admins" need a gui then they are big girls blouses. Mind you I've no idea what this login screen looks like, can you not just type the name in?

no, the Xwindows server processes are not running as root that way, that's the point. In terms of installing updates, I'd generally do that via sudo, so never use the root password. Various gnome gui tools and things tend to use root though if that's what you mean.

Debian (or Gnome) disabled it by design. You can fix it in the config files, but you lose a lot of security and the option to find out who issued "rm -rf /" as root if it is enabled. Your colo poeple, as professionals, should know how and why to use sudo.

There is no need to use sudo... open a terminal emulator:

If you need to log in to an x session as root though, you're doing something wrong. I'll skip the lecture as to why it's such a bad idea - but there is simply no need for it.

what do you mean, no "need" to sudo?? It's generally better to use sudo than su. sudo isn't a hassle.

If you want to run gui-apps _and_ got gdm running neither su nor sudo will help. sux or gksu will.

I can't see a hassle in using su. I can see one in setting up sudo properly.

As a replacement for:

There is no "need" for sudo - it's simply down to preference.

If say I want to set up my normal user to shutdown from a window manager (only one example) - there is a "need" for sudo (i.e. nothing else would do the job as simply and efficiently) and that's where it absolutely shines.

In your opinion of course?

Neither is:

On a home PC - single user - yes, su is more convenient. On a multi admin site you need a sane way to log changes, su will not give you this.

I can only second that. If those people really need to log in as root to a graphical session you should change your "admins", not the system.

That is very different from what you said in the first place:
and to that i answered.

In GDM, before you log in, look for a "Configure the Login Manager" menu item (I forget the exact wording).

Open that (it will ask for a password) and look for a setting to "Allow local administrator." That will unlock the root login for the GDM.

I'm not going to get involved in the login or not login as root debate.