Trouble Logging In as Root
 

Hello,

I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.
During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can use
perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the
system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as root
I receive this message:

sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root
Password:
su: Authentication failure
sam@sam-laptop:~$

Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so
that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another fresh
install is required that is certainly as possibility.

Thanks for your help.

Sam
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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:28 AM, hippie dream <tonightsthenight@gmail.com> wrote:



Hello,



I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.

During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can use

perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the

system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as root

I receive this message:



sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root

Password:

su: Authentication failure

sam@sam-laptop:~$



Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so

that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another fresh

install is required that is certainly as possibility.



Thanks for your help.


Try

su sam

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Potpis.

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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

Hi,

Most probably you have been using the sudo to install software which uses the password of your current logged on account.
ROOT password on the other hand is not the same.

If you want to su to root then try to reset the root's password first


# sudo passwd root
# >ENTER YOUR ACCOUNT PASSWORD<

then enter the password you desire for root. and when done you can use the new password to # su

Regards,
Wael

On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 10:28 AM, hippie dream <tonightsthenight@gmail.com> wrote:



Hello,



I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.

During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can use

perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the

system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as root

I receive this message:






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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

2008/11/9 hippie dream <tonightsthenight@gmail.com>:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.
> During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can use
> perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the
> system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as root
> I receive this message:
>
> sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root
> Password:
> su: Authentication failure
> sam@sam-laptop:~$
>
> Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so
> that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another fresh
> install is required that is certainly as possibility.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Sam

Hey,
Ubuntu doesn't set a password on the root account by default.
All root interaction is through sudo, gksudo etc.
The password you set during installation was your own user password
and you should have been added as an admin with full sudo rights.
Simply use `sudo -i` to get a root shell. (check the sudo man page
for other options)

If you want to be able to use the root login in the traditional way
just use `sudo passwd` to set a root password.

cheers,
Owen.

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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

> I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.
> During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can
> use
> perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the
> system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as
> root
> I receive this message:
>
> sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root
> Password:
> su: Authentication failure
> sam@sam-laptop:~$
>
> Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so
> that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another
> fresh
> install is required that is certainly as possibility.

No panic Sam,
there is by default no password for root. However, your administrator
login gives you the right to act as root, which you use ever so offten
when you install programs or edit various system configurations.
If you want to run anything that needs root privilege, then:

$ sudo yourCommand

or if it's a graphic application:

$ gksu yourCommand

The password you give sudo is your normal login password.

Google for: ubuntu sudo root password
or something if you need more explanation.

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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

Perfect. Thank you very much.

Sam

Ranko Pavić wrote:
>
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:28 AM, hippie dream
> <tonightsthenight@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.
>> During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can
>> use
>> perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the
>> system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as
>> root
>> I receive this message:
>>
>> sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root
>> Password:
>> su: Authentication failure
>> sam@sam-laptop:~$
>>
>> Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so
>> that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another
>> fresh
>> install is required that is certainly as possibility.
>>
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>
> Try
>
> su sam
>
>
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>
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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

hippie dream wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.
> During the setup process, I was prompted to give a password which I can use
> perfectly to install programs and make most changes. However, I think the
> system only set me up as a administrator because when I try to login as root
> I receive this message:
>
> sam@sam-laptop:~$ su root
> Password:
> su: Authentication failure
> sam@sam-laptop:~$
>
> Am I missing something really obvious here? How can setup my computer so
> that I can login as root? I have all my files backed up so if another fresh
> install is required that is certainly as possibility.

Hi,

Ignore the advice to set a root password. To do things that need root
privileges, for example to install software, do:

sudo apt-get install foo

I keep a root shell open most of the time, which I get by doing:

sudo -i

When you're prompted for the password, just enter the password that you
assigned to the first account you created.
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Toronto, ON
Canada M4N 3P6

<http://dinamis.com>
+1 416-410-3326
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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

On Sun, 2008-11-09 at 20:39 +1100, James Gray wrote:
> <pedantic>
> Actually, there *IS* a password for root:
>
> #cat /etc/passwd /etc/shadow | grep root
> root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
> root:*:13755:0:99999:7:::

As long as we're being pedantic... you get the prize for "useless use of
cat" :)

grep root /etc/passwd /etc/shadow

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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

On Sat, 2008-11-08 at 23:28 -0800, hippie dream wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am having trouble logging in as root on a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo


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Trouble Logging In as Root
 

On 09/11/2008, at 6:44 PM, Carl Friis-Hansen wrote:

there is by default no password for root.


<pedantic>
Actually, there *IS* a password for root:

#cat /etc/passwd /etc/shadow | grep root
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
root:*:13755:0:99999:7:::

The second field on the second line is the _hashed_ password from /etc/
shadow


HOWEVER, there is *nothing* you can enter that will cause
crypt(+md5..etc) to hash to a value of "*". Therefore login using
root's account directly is not possible. To say that there is "no
password for root" implies that passwordless login is possible; which
of course it isn't. :)

</pedantic>

Carl, I'm not trying to single you out dude, just wanted to use the
opportunity to provide an object lesson in how passwords are handled
in Linux (and most Unix versions too). It's a trivial nit-pick of
wording, and I agree with the rest of your post. When I first started
using Ubuntu (having been a Unix admin since 1994 on Solaris/True64/HP-
UX/AIX...and Linux) I thought "no root login...WTF?!?!" - but I
thought I'd give it a chance anyway. Having got used to the whole
"sudo way", I can't see why people persist with setting a root
password on desktop systems etc. You want a root shell - "sudo -i".
You want to do something as root - "sudo <something>". You want to
run a GUI app as root - "gksudo <GUIapp>" or "kdesu <GUIapp>"...voila!


Who needs root anyway? On server machines with many admins, I've
always set the root password to be something long, completely random
(pwgen anyone?) and put it in an envelope in a locked box/safety
deposit box. Paranoia? No. Simply the idea that if a machine is
soooo broken that not even sudo works, you need a bloody good reason
for breaking out root - which usually means fessing up to senior
admins and/or management. Differnet horses for different courses.


Oh, and if you've got physical access to a box, then all bets are off.

Cheers,

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