Ubuntu won't let me log on as root
in [UK Linux]
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From: Dave W on 18 Jun 2010 07:42 All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, and won't let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the better. I can log in as root by booting into rescue mode, but that goes to command line only. I can then edit any of the millions of files at will, but can anyone tell me which ones to let me install new programs? Dave W
From: Phil Stovell on 18 Jun 2010 07:55 On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:42:00 -0700, Dave W wrote: > All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, but > I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my laptop > (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies the two > requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) installable > from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. > > I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, and won't let me > install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the internet > and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the better. I can log > in as root by booting into rescue mode, but that goes to command line > only. I can then edit any of the millions of files at will, but can anyone > tell me which ones to let me install new programs? > > Dave W Ubuntu has root login disabled by default, as a security measure. To install new programs, either Applications -> Add/Remove, or System -> Admin -> Synaptic package manager. It will ask for a password, give it your login password. See this about sudo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudo
From: chris on 18 Jun 2010 08:51 On 18/06/10 12:42, Dave W wrote: > All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, > but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my > laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies > the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) > installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. > > I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, In linux, you don't login as root. You login as a normal user and then provide additional authentication when you want to do system-wide stuff. Logging in as the administrator/root by default is what caused windows problems (amongst other things). > and won't > let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the > internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the > better. I'm not sure how you intent to install stuff if you're not on the internet? The majority of linux software is installed via their online repositories.
From: Justin C on 18 Jun 2010 08:40 On 2010-06-18, Dave W <davewi11(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > All the magazines tell me how easy Linux can be for beginners like me, > but I cannot even begin. I want to install Linux on a partition on my > laptop (HP N1412), but the only distribution I can find that satisfies > the two requirements of (1) having my Intel830 screen driver, and (2) > installable from a CD not DVD, is Ubuntu 9.04. > > I can log on as user, but it won't let me log on as root, and won't > let me install any new programs. The machine is not connected to the > internet and will only be used by me, so the less logging in the > better. I can log in as root by booting into rescue mode, but that > goes to command line only. I can then edit any of the millions of > files at will, but can anyone tell me which ones to let me install new > programs? Don't log in as root. If you're not root you can't accidentally do something that will damage your system. It's exactly for this reason that a root logon is not available by default in Ubuntu and some others. This is a good thing. It might be inconvenient at first when you are setting up your system, but once that is done and you are just using the system rather than configuring it keeps all the stuff you won't need on a day to day basis out of your way. What you want is "sudo" which allows temporary super-user ability. But I don't know how Ubuntu organises this - it might be that the password you will need is your own. If you're not connected to the net, how are you going to install new software? I don't know what tools Ubuntu gives for package management, but I'd be inclined to "sudo dselect" (if dselect is available). Others swear by different tools, you'll just have to Google "ubuntu package management" and see what comes up. Justin. -- Justin C, by the sea.
From: Mike Scott on 18 Jun 2010 09:37
Justin C wrote: ..... > What you want is "sudo" which allows temporary super-user ability. But I > don't know how Ubuntu organises this - it might be that the password you > will need is your own. It is. You need to be in group wheel, iirc, which is the default for the first user created. It's a bit weird at the start when you're used to having a root login, and I have been known to do a 'sudo su' on occasion, but not often :-) -- Mike Scott (unet2 <at> [deletethis] scottsonline.org.uk) Harlow Essex England |