shut down permission

varaahan · 06-05-2006, 10:41 AM

In Debian/Slackware when I try to halt or reboot as an ordinary user
from console terminal, I am not allowed to do so (I get the msg
" only root can do that"). Using the chmod +777 command does not help.
But from GUI mode , I can halt the system as an ordinary user. How ?

Also in Debian , root is not given access to GUI. How to change it?

Boovarahan S

jeelliso · 06-05-2006, 10:44 AM

Typical programming practice uses a program called sudo that allows normal users to run programs as root. I'm pretty sure this is how your GUI does it. Run

Code:

man sudo

to learn more about it.

Emerson · 06-05-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varaahan

Also in Debian , root is not given access to GUI. How to change it?

All you need to change this attitude is to learn, learn about Linux, about security etc. Finally you'll understand root account is not an user account and the GUI is designed for users.

varaahan · 06-05-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

All you need to change this attitude is to learn, learn about Linux, about security etc. Finally you'll understand root account is not an user account and the GUI is designed for users.

For an average home user, the security need not be so tight
(as in other distros). I never login as root and even I had
to use root's privileges I use a console terminal for that.
Just I wanted to know how to get around the problem.

Emerson · 06-05-2006, 11:42 AM

Don't remember exactly, I think it was somewhere in XDM config file.
Security is needed for home users too. MS is using admin account as user account to please their braindead customers. As a result the spam arriving to my mailbox is relayed thru Windows mail zombies (was it 70% of spam all over the world?). And I hate it.

jeelliso · 06-05-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Just I wanted to know how to get around the problem.

Like it said, use sudo.

varaahan · 06-05-2006, 08:58 PM

sudo requires again the root password which is not required in GUI mode.
Why this difference?

Emerson · 06-05-2006, 09:16 PM

This can be set in sudoers file, see 'man visudo' and 'man sudoers'.

Electro · 06-05-2006, 10:51 PM

The suggestion that I do not recommend for all systems is set a sticky bit for the halt or reboot command. To do this set halt or reboot to 1555. This will make it read and execute for everybody. It is better to set it to 1550 and add a new group. Then specify what users can halt and reboot the system. I highly recommend setting up sudo, so certain users can halt and reboot the computer.