root error on ubuntu 7.04(URGENT)

Digital Surgeon · 06-12-2007, 02:21 PM

Hello,
I am new to Ubuntu 7.04.
Can someone please explain to me why you

run
steve@steve-desktop:~$ sudo su
to become root instead of just like in Fedora you just typed "su root".

Also when you "sudo su" and become root
via
root@steve-Desktop:~$

Why when you close the terminal window, does it act like you are not root.

I have ubuntu 7.04 Fiesty Fawn installed on the same hard drive as Windows.

Any ideas.

tanstaafl4y · 06-12-2007, 02:33 PM

I just reread your post. To answer your question -because its ubuntu, and they say its "safer" that way. The text below was my halfcocked responce, to your quickly skimmed post

not sure if this helps-- When I need to run several 'root' commands in terminal I first use the command

sudo -i

This logs me in as root for the remaineder of the "terminal session" I always use the command

exit

twice to close the terminal window. (first one kills the root access)

I'm not sure if there is a way to have root access to files/folders using the GUI.

imhennessy · 06-12-2007, 06:30 PM

First warning: I am using Edgy Eft Xubuntu. But I think it is possible to:

user@Desktop:~$ sudo su
Password:
root@Desktop:~$thunar &

and run Thunar as root.
I have not yet tried this with other GUI front ends, although some programs will automatically ask for your root password before you can access them.

ivan

angryfirelord · 06-12-2007, 06:42 PM

Doing sudo su does not make everything you run have root access (that would be very bad if it did). If you need an application to have root access, just type its command in there when you do sudo su.

Digital Surgeon · 06-14-2007, 06:20 PM

Hi,
Yes thank you, I just want to clarify that I have figured out my issue, I was just confused between Fedora and Ubuntu linux.

pixellany · 06-14-2007, 06:34 PM

Anticlimactic snippet:

The first thing I do on any Ubuntu install is enable the root account:

sudo passwd root

Then Ubuntu behaves like all normal distros--except that certain config files want your regular user password instead of root password like everyone else.

The better fix? Install Mepis (Based on Ubuntu, but without this nonsense)....