I can't login as root...
OK when i start up my computer, gdm shows and asks me for my username and password. I give it my username and password and it works but when i give it root and root's password it says incorrect username or password..
But i can do sudo su and then i give it root's password and it works I can't do su - or su root Could someone explain me what is going on here? Quote:
Kubuntu 8.10 KDE 4.2.1 |
((dont quote me on this)) I dont THINK "root" is an actualy\ user, per se, but rather, more like a permissions level or group. The whole gorup then uses the password for anything that needs root level access...
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If there is an entry in /etc/passwd then that user is said to exist. Root even has it's own home direcotry.. that MUST be a real user i just can't figure out why won't it let me login.. I remember installing slackware and it said i can now login as root and it worked so it's definitely a user..
any ideas..? |
Whatever distro you're using (looks like something Ubuntuish) obviously the root account is "disabled". If you want to activate it, run..
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sudo passwd By the way, graphical login for root is disabled by default. |
Of course root is also a user with all the privileges. As Maligree mentioned graphical log-in for root is disabled by default. It is done for your own safety. Because with root privileges you can edit any system file and even delete them. This is really dangerous and therefore root should not be used as your regular user account.
The thing with sudo and su is bit different. When you use sudo command(ex. Code:
sudo kate But when you use su it asks for root password. Code:
Kasun@kasun~cse:~$ su But you can manually change the root password.(for kubuntu goto Applications->System->Kuser)and click on root account and set a new Password. hth :) |
One question. I was looking at the /etc/shadow file and i see that the password for root is '!'.. what does it mean? Doesn't '*' mean no password?
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In the *buntu family, root is not allowed to log in graphically.
Also, to change to root you will have to type in Code:
sudo su |
SkinnerC is half right, when using sudo the password you should be entering is your password.
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If you're using Ubuntu you could always: sudo su Enter your password This should give you a # root terminal Then do: passwd enter a password you want for root Log out and login with root and the password you just set. |
Looks like all i had to do to enable root login was to set the password for root so i used KUser to do that and i can now login as root! YAY! :)
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You are misguided. A quick search will explain why. Good luck. |
haha actually i just wanted to know why i wasn't able to log in as root. I'm new to linux and i want to know everything haven't you been there ? :) I don't actually need to log in as root but now i see why i wasn't able to :)
Cheers! |
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Give us a break. |
There is nothing wrong with logging in as root on your own personal system as long as you are aware that you could easily break or wipe out your whole system if you don't know what you are doing and if you use programs that access the internet (firefox, skype, torrents, chat software) you increase the risk of malicious software taking over your system.
So if you don't have any valuable data on the system you are doing this, and you don't mind possibly having to reinstall your system, then it's not a problem, after all you learn best by trying things out! |
ok, i got it! :)
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Log in as root if you want, its your system. If it breaks as a result of this though, meh, you were warned ;)
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Why would it break just because i log in as root?
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It wouldn't break BECAUSE you login as root, its what you would do whilst you're logged in as root. Or, even if an application has a bug and goes nuts. Its all running as root.
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hI
Hi queen. I will explain clearly whats going on here
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In fourth line, you tried to do the same and got the same result In seventh line, you used sudo, which is the command to give root privileges for a while with ordinary user password and so you are given root access using your own account. Very simple. All the best |
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