root privledges

robmainella · 09-01-2003, 09:18 PM

Is there any way to assign root privledges to a user so the user does not have to the root password whenever they need to change settings

quatsch · 09-01-2003, 09:25 PM

don't even think about it. That would defeat whole purpose of having root and normal users with lesser privileges. most user specific settings can be changed without root priv.

trickykid · 09-01-2003, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by quatsch
don't even think about it. That would defeat whole purpose of having root and normal users with lesser privileges. most user specific settings can be changed without root priv.

No, there is a way, its called sudo.

With sudo you can assign certain privileges only root has to a user or even groups, etc without giving out the root password.

Cheers

quatsch · 09-01-2003, 09:39 PM

yeah, but would you want to allow a normal user access to the config files in /etc, say? seems especially bad for a newbie.

trickykid · 09-01-2003, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by quatsch
yeah, but would you want to allow a normal user access to the config files in /etc, say? seems especially bad for a newbie.

that's the power of sudo, you set what you want them to have access to. for example, most users don't have the power to shutdown the machine. with sudo, i can give that access to just one user or multiple users if I want, without giving out root's password.

man sudo for more details. but this i believe is what robmainella was asking if possible. just because i give a user access to create a user or add a device doesn't mean they have access directly to the config files in /etc.

quatsch · 09-01-2003, 09:47 PM

I thought that the request was to give *full* root privilleges to a normal user since that's what's needed to avoid ever typing a password to change settings - but maybe I misinterpreted.

trickykid · 09-01-2003, 09:59 PM

well, (s)he asked if there was a way to change some settings, didn't specify, but to change settings without giving root access. the only way to accomplish this is thru sudo.

i agree giving someone root access without being root is just a bad idea and should never be done.

enigmasoldier · 09-01-2003, 10:25 PM

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...427#post453427