LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian
User Name
Password
Debian This forum is for the discussion of Debian Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 04-23-2007, 05:54 AM   #1
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
Run as root


How can I run as root in Debian? I can't login at the initial screen, is there an option in Debian I haven't found yet that lets me login and change everything like Ubuntu had?
 
Old 04-23-2007, 06:01 AM   #2
Dutch Master
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,686

Rep: Reputation: 124Reputation: 124
Open a terminal and issue the su command. This prompts you for the root password. Now you're root
 
Old 04-23-2007, 07:23 AM   #3
mikieboy
Member
 
Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK
Distribution: Linux Mint 19.1 Xfce
Posts: 555

Rep: Reputation: 33
There's also a root terminal. Select that and you will be asked for your password and you're in.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 02:24 PM   #4
glidermike
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto Canada
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 90

Rep: Reputation: 16
At the GDM (gnome)login screen,on the bottom you will see a menu item called "actions" click on "configure login manager" you will have to supply your root password. This will bring you to a screen with a couple of tags-go to the security tag and there you will be presented with an option to allow root logins -check it and your good to go.(also you can set the computer to login automatically to a specific user-bypassing the login prompt if you wish)This is a handy way for you to do system maintenance in a graphical mode-but running as root for everyday tasks is a security risk--don't do it!
 
Old 04-23-2007, 03:28 PM   #5
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
Thanks Glidermike! I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like what I need. I know how to login as root in a terminal, but when you exit the shell, you aren't root anymore.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 04:05 PM   #6
Quakeboy02
Senior Member
 
Registered: Nov 2006
Distribution: Debian Linux 11 (Bullseye)
Posts: 3,407

Rep: Reputation: 141Reputation: 141
Quote:
I know how to login as root in a terminal, but when you exit the shell, you aren't root anymore.
Yes, and that's the whole point. If you setup an root environment, you are eventually going to type "rm -rf *" while in the wrong directory, and that's exactly what's going to happen. Typing that as a regular user isn't quite as painful.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 04:10 PM   #7
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
I don't need to do it very often, just to edit desktop themes.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 04:27 PM   #8
nx5000
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Out
Posts: 3,307

Rep: Reputation: 57
Actually it's even more vicious than this.
Some people will configure stuffs under root that are aimed at the user.
And then they whine because the system doesn't work while running as a user.
Because the file is now owned by root.

A good example is when you compile programs under root and then decide to recompile under a user. make clean doesn't work anymore.

You should always try to run as a user and if you really can't, then use programs like sux to do it as root.

Last edited by nx5000; 04-23-2007 at 04:31 PM.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 04:37 PM   #9
JimBass
Senior Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: New York City
Distribution: Debian Sid 2.6.32
Posts: 2,100

Rep: Reputation: 49
Running as graphical root is foolish, which is why it is disabled in the first place. Everything for a user (themes, desktops and other such toys) should be done as a user. You certainly do not need to be root to add a new theme. Just use the tool that sets the theme, point it at the theme in your user's directory, and it should accept it.

Running as full root is a very poor windows behavior, and one I would personally like to see completely eliminated from the *nix world. Doing things like that open a normally secure *nix box up to problems. Part of what keeps *nix relatively safe is that the regular user does not have permissions to alter "important" files. Running as root bypasses all that well thought out security, so anything you do unintentionally or stupidly as root can effect your entire system. Doing things like you're trying to do will open the same virus/spyware issues to linux that windows suffers from. As I never run as root I don't particularly care what you do, but what you are essentially doing is driving 200 km/h without a seatbealt while drinking. As long as you don't crash it seems fine, but that crash might be really painful.

Peace,
JimBass
 
Old 04-23-2007, 04:56 PM   #10
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
I guess I am used to being able to do it in CentOS quite easily. I never screwed stuff up, I just had to be root to edit my fluxbox themes while I used them to see how they worked.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 05:04 PM   #11
nx5000
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Out
Posts: 3,307

Rep: Reputation: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalabanta
I guess I am used to being able to do it in CentOS quite easily. I never screwed stuff up, I just had to be root to edit my fluxbox themes while I used them to see how they worked.
Doesn't mean that you WON'T

The fact is that you don't need to run the WM as root. There is not one single advantage but a lot of drawbacks.

You don't need to be root to edit your fluxbox themes or whatever.

Why do you think people keep on saying again and again the same thing? Because it's bad habit.

The next step you run firefox which contains a buffer overflow. You go on a website that contains a virus. YOu get it, your machine is to be reinstalled. Very easy.

regards
 
Old 04-23-2007, 05:22 PM   #12
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
Goodness gracious-I got the message the first million times. I am careful. Don't yell at me. Settle down, you are only preventing me from respecting/acknowledging your future replies because of how uncontrolled you seem to be. I get the picture.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 05:30 PM   #13
nx5000
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Out
Posts: 3,307

Rep: Reputation: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalabanta
Goodness gracious-I got the message the first million times. I am careful. Don't yell at me. Settle down, you are only preventing me from respecting/acknowledging your future replies because of how uncontrolled you seem to be.
Yeah I'm running unstable and it fits to me
I can also not reply to you if you prefer.
I think I will stop telling people to not run as root. I don't care in fact.
Being more constructive, it's just that people are kind enough to keep on telling you to not do this and your answer is: I never make mistakes...
In more than 10 years I did 2 times a mistake while running as root.
I lost everthing the second time. There was a link from /mnt/hda1 to /. I mistyped rm -rf /mnt/hda2/ to /mnt/hda1. /bin /boot /etc are the first ones in alphabetical order, too bad..
 
Old 04-23-2007, 05:39 PM   #14
Emerson
LQ Sage
 
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Saint Amant, Acadiana
Distribution: Gentoo ~amd64
Posts: 7,661

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Possible damage to your own computer is barely one side...

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...40#post2572040

This is why using a computer as root is nothing but rude.
 
Old 04-23-2007, 05:46 PM   #15
phantom_cyph
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: The Tropics
Distribution: Slackware & Derivatives
Posts: 2,472

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
I don't mind you replying to my posts, just don't 'yell'. I appreciate the advice I am given, but I don't need it in font size 72 to be able to read it. I just wanted to know how to run as root if needed. As far as internet, I unplug my cable whenever I run in root to keep from getting viruses.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Is a script, run at boot time from init.d, run with root authority? tmbrwolf53 Linux - Server 2 03-31-2007 08:15 PM
how do I run from root repairshop Linux - Newbie 6 02-01-2007 09:18 AM
Run First As Root? Terje Linux - Software 1 01-10-2005 08:13 AM
I have to ssh -l root to run root processes!? paul.nel Red Hat 3 11-15-2004 11:55 AM
LimeWire installed as root, can't run if not root sulzla Linux - Newbie 1 07-01-2003 07:48 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:59 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration