root environment doesn't look right

pcandpc · 05-27-2005, 04:12 AM

Hello?

For PowerPack 10.1, when I login as root, the desktop
does not have any icons and right mouse cliking on it
doesn't bring up the usual context menu as in regular
user setting.

Also, the panel bar is empty except the lone Mandrake
Star icon to bring up the start menu.

Is this right or something's not set up correctly?

Thanks.

fancypiper · 05-27-2005, 04:32 AM

Try deleting the .k* directories in your /root directory, then startx and let them regenerate.

I think I read somewhere that running the GUI as root is insecure, so I suggest using your user account and administering your system through an X terminal.

Basic system administration
To change to the full root account (system administrator), if you are running X, open an x terminal and use these commands from your user account. Note the change in the prompt. You can do the same from a virtual terminal as well, but you can't open an x terminal to do so.

Code:

[fancy@tinwhistle fancy]$ su -
Password: <give root password and press enter>
[root@tinwhistle root]#

Remember, now whatever you command in root (it's the "god" mode. You can bless or destroy at your whim) usually gets done if enough system is left to carry out the command.

Sit on your hands and read the commands you type at least 3 times before pressing the enter key when in root.

pcandpc · 05-27-2005, 04:41 AM

Hi fancypiper,

Great! I see. I'll work on that later.

Thanks.

pcandpc · 05-28-2005, 04:40 PM

Hi fancypiper,

Well, I tried deleting .k* files/directories under /root and
restarted the system, but this didn't help.

When I login as root, I still have an empty desktop and
no right-mouse click response on the desktop. Also,
the panel is empty, not even the system clock, except
the lone Mandrake start icon.

Since this isn't that much of an issue as I can just do away
either in su mode in the console or from the root's KDE start
menu, but I'm wondering if this issue is due to some corrupt
packages during install.

Even though this is PowerPack 10.1, I've had the exact same
issue under Mandrake 9.1 which I had abandoned long ago.

I'd appreciate if anyone has any idea.

Regards,

fancypiper · 05-28-2005, 04:53 PM

After thinking it through, that is probably a security issue.

I have read that you can cause security risks if you run X as root.

Fedora Core runs it at first boot in order to do a few things, then after, you aren't allowed to run it as root, and Gentoo won't allow X to be run as root in the GUI with the standard install.

pcandpc · 05-28-2005, 04:59 PM

Hi fancypiper,

I see. So, there's nothing wrong with the current
behavior posed by PowerPack when I log in as root?

Thanks.

fancypiper · 05-28-2005, 06:00 PM

Well, I only tried Mandrake when I won a prize here back a while ago. I installed it on an el-cheapo box I built and then gave it to a friend of mine in exchange for a hand made set of dinner ware (for which I am still waiting), so I don't have a lot of experience with that particular distro that is reputed to be so user friendly.

You might have a work-around so that you can allow root to use the user's X session, if needed. I was under the impression that Mandrivia had apps that let you do root stuff in the KDE menu.

Misc cool stuff
# Create a partition label
e2label /dev/hdb1 <mountpoint>
# Allow root to use your X session
xhost +local:
su -
export DISPLAY=:0.0
# Playing radio
Try using these settings for your helper apps in your browser:

Code:

MIME Type		Helper
audio/m3u 		xmms
audio/x-scpls		xmms
video/x-ms-asf		xmms
audio/rm		realplay
audio/x-pn-realaudio	realplay
audio/x-realaudio	realplay

More good places to find Linux tips:

Linux Questions Tricks and hints
Just Linux tips

pcandpc · 05-28-2005, 09:16 PM

Hi fancypiper,

Great! Actually, this isn't that much of a concern to me,
but I appreciate your interest in this issue.

I'll look into your suggestions and links.

Thanks.

RoofRabbit · 05-30-2005, 01:12 AM

Try going into the menu editor for both system and user and save them. Some of the Mandrake releases had a bug not showing the menus, BUT they were there in the editor. Simply saving them as though you made changes usually fixed the problem.

pcandpc · 05-30-2005, 02:47 AM

Hi RoofRabbit,

Thanks. So, basically I compare root and user menu items
and edit them accordingly and suitably for root? Or, simply
browsing the root menu editor and resave the setting in order
to "reactivate" the root menu items?

Regards,

pcandpc · 05-30-2005, 06:29 PM

Hi all,

I tried just looking around in the Control Center>System>Menu
for some anomalies for "root" but found out nothing seriously
out of ordinary.

Manually, I just added some system clock and applets on the
panel, and this obviously started to make things look alike regular
user GUI environment for root's GUI albeit "manual" configuration.

I suppose this does it for this issue unless there're some graphical
configurations I can do to make root's GUI settings a bit nicer as in
a regular user's environment.

Thanks for all your interests in this issue.

Padma · 05-31-2005, 01:28 PM

My understanding is that Mandriva intentionally "crippled" the root gui, as you should be doing everything from your user login, using "su" as necessary.

fancypiper · 05-31-2005, 01:30 PM

As has Fedora, etc.

# Basic Linux security and virus info
The Virus Writing HOWTO reference: Should I get anti-virus software for my Linux box?
Unusual network activity? chkrootkit is a tool to locally check for signs of a rootkit
Linux Questions Security references
Security Help Files
Linux Administrator's Security Guide
Security Focus
Linux Security
Firewalls and Security

pcandpc · 05-31-2005, 05:51 PM

Hi Padma and fancypiper,

Thanks for your feedbacks.

jchance · 06-01-2005, 11:15 PM

I know exactly what you are talking about here. Bottom line KDE by default as root in Mandriva is crippled, but gnome isn't. Well if you need to quickly hop in as root then it might be good to know this.

I have only found one time where i needed to do this so i am wondering why you would want to. Word of advice su into root and do what you need to do that way. That is the safer smarter way if you ask me.