I noted that Fedora 11 again has the root account disabled. Is this the same all distributions? If not, which can I pick to avoid the problem.

I also noted some comments about using KDE rather than Gnome - that this would avoid the root account problem. Is this true? I am aware that in F11 not only is the root account disabled, but also some programs (e.g. system-config-services) will not run under root. Does this problem exist in KDE as well?
Regards,
Lou.

Several distros have moved to this model. Re-enabling root is trivial, but it would defeat the purpose. I'm not sure that this would change the way KDE or Gnome behave, since they are running with some root level permissions so far as I know on most systems.

What is the exact issue that you're having? Is it something you can solve by using sudo, such as editing a root owned file?

You can use gksudo to run GUI progs as root.
It is not recommended to login as root for abvious reasons

Many distros do use that model unfortunately. I'm glad you see it as it is, a problem. Obviously the distro maintainers do this for a reason, because people using a root account my damage the system, but seriously, its linux, its users should know better, and IMO it sucks when I want to do something and my computer tells me "no", I rule my computer, it does not rule me.
But it is pretty simple to enable on any distro. Also, you can set your normal account to sudo without needing a password. and if you only need temporary root access, "sudo -i" will simulate a root login, even if its disabled.

Hello,

Don't know about Fedora, but i.e. Ubuntu does everything with sudo.
However, this is not that common, in fact most Linux distributions come with enabled root accounts, i.e. Debian, RedHat, Suse, etc. just to name some.

You did not tell us much about, whats your problem with not having root account by default - well almost nothing.

What is F11? I'm not aware of much more than the (optional) Console at Terminal <Ctrl><Alt><F11>, but this doesn't make any to me in the context given here. System configuration will always need a privileged user or a user being member of a privileged group, be it root, wheel, or anything else.

Again, fail to see your problem. Does Gnome warn about running an X session as root? The warning is correct, your complaint would be wrong. Root account is not for regular work (Office, Browsing the Net, ...) and within a graphical environment consequences of misuse may hit twice as hard as on the console.

We may be able to serve you more, if you feel like telling us more details, as requested above.

Greetings

I log in as root all the time. The reason people don't recommend it is because if you do stupid things as root then you can do damage, but non-root accounts are limited. "Obvious reasons" is debatable.
MY SOLUTION: Instead of not using root, just don't do stupid things. Makes sense, right?

Not allways

And get the system infected by a rootkit, then everybody is affected.

No, see above

Who are you to tell him what he can and can't do? He doesn't like that he can't log in as root, who are you to say he is wrong to complain?

Again, its up to him what he wants to use his computer for. The key word there is "misuse", if there is no misuse, then use of root is perfectly safe.

Computers shouldn't try to limit what people want to use them for. Especially linux.

It is, if the computer stays of the net

Ok, fair enough. But how often does that happen? Many people consider linux to be virus free. Which isn't 100% true, the chances you will ever encounter linux malware in day-to-day use is about 0. Unless of course you happen to share your pc with experienced programmers that hate linux, or spend your time trying to prove me wrong.

More than you think, and even if it is minimal, it happens.
It is a good practice not to work as root, even if the danger is minimal.
People need to be aware of the dangers when running as root.
Is it that hard to type a password when you want to do some admin tasks?
The more linux will be used, the more the attacks will happen.

Ok, but "good practice" is relative and debatable. I'm not saying everyone should use root all the time, I'm just saying that if you want to use your root account, you shouldn't be prohibited.

And also, attacks don't just randomly happen, information doesn't just jump off your computer onto an attacker, and viruses don't just jump on to it. You pc has to either send information to an attack or download a virus to be affected, attackers either use vulnerabilities in valid software or try to trick users into doing it themselves. Either way, by careful use, all attacks are avoidable. I run my windows machines without anti-virus or firewall and have no problems whatsoever.

Your last sentence is a very good point. The more people use it, the more it will happen. If linux becomes more widely used, I can't expect every user to have the knowledge to avoid such attacks, although, I think to be able to use your computer to its fullest capabilities, you should know as much as you can about it (and that includes avoiding attacks).

zero
Of course he can. Never said that.
1st
I am root. ;-) Never needed a (direct, graphical) root login to get anything done before in Linux.
2nd
Thanks for quoting. Do you know, how to include the author of the quoted text? Use it, please.
3rd
I feel like being hitten quite hard by you. Why? I think I've not been that harsh. I fact I repeatedly asked him, LouArnold, what exactly is the problem with not working as root in his case. Still don't see much clearer by now.

Because a warning would be just a warning, nothing to complain about like an impossible action. He would actually be able to login, or at least get it working with one or a few configuration changes to circumvent root account protection for X logins, as was pointed out by others too.

Matter of taste. Obviously you're not a sysadmin for 100+ people running mission critical applications. I'm less focussed on strict off-network home use. Much more often, if not regularly, computers really should limit people and stop them from doing evil to others and themselves. This is a feature. Total freedom is only for few people who know and obey strict rules without enforcement. My point of view. Discuss, please, don't flame. :-)

And again my big question: what for? Office work, browser, gaming, huh? Tell me why do you actually need to be root in Gnome/KDE, having ssh-askpass and friends at hand.

And if the software is owned by root....
However, just use your common sence.