can't access root partition, can't write

[G_Rammstein]

Why can't i write to my root partition from a normal user?? why can't i logg on root from the logg in menu??am i the only one with this problem?? :mellow:

 

 

Edit (Qchem): Moved to Security.

[Qchem]

The basic answer is security. You're not supposed to be able to write (or more importantly overwrite) files that are of a general importance to the OS - those that are found in the root partition.

 

Also, it's good security practice not to log in as root (same in any OS) so this option is disabled by default. The way to edit files as root is to either use the su command to change to the root command from a terminal, or to use the kdesu package or similar (e.g. press ALT-F2 and type kdesu konqueror).

[scarecrow]

Why can't i write to my root partition from a normal user?? why can't i logg on root from the logg in menu??am i the only one with this problem?? :mellow:

 

For quite the opposite reasons you are running your windows system with an administrator account as default, and feel perfectly happy and safe... until you are infected, a couple of weeks later, of course.

As explained in the previous post

kdesu konsole

or

kdesu konqueror

are enough to manage everything as root.

Or, if you feel lazy typing the root password all the time, add your user to the "wheel" group, and then setup whatever you want to do with root priviledges, and customize by running in a root console

visudo

Of course the latter requires a minimal vi knowledge, as well as knowing what you are doing!

Edited October 19, 2006 by scarecrow

[G_Rammstein]

noticed that root acces is disabled. Tha is why i changed to gdm, in wich i can access the root. I think that not beeing able to acces the root is a very disturbing thing, because u can't do everything from console. They should reenable the root acces. Anyway,i finally managed to enable xgl, but it is veeeeeery slow. Is it because i'm using gdm or is it normal??

[ianw1974]

Err, yes you can, it's called typing:

 

su

 

and then providing the root password, and you get, root privileges! Logging on as root is stupid and irresponsible. Your whole system can be wrecked, just like with Windows and it's stupid default of Administrator rights.

 

It's better to use "su" when you need superuser (root) access. It requires a password, it's more secure. Anyone hijacks your session, and you're screwed ;)

 

But if you like root, go for it. I hope you don't end up with a trashed system, really.

[G_Rammstein]

i'm not using root as default. it's just easier to configure that way. i know su, but i prefer graphical mode. I strongly doubt anyone will hack my sesion.anyway, i managed to use kdm and access root graph way.

[ianw1974]

You can open a console, and do this:

 

su (enter root password when prompted)

 

now, if you want konqueror running in root, you can then just type:

 

konqueror

 

of course, you can also click the star, and then click Run. Then type konqueror, and click the box to run as a different user, then type root and the password.

 

Alternatively, just type:

 

kdesu konqueror

 

and kde will prompt you for the root password. So, you can do with the gui as a normal user, and still run apps as root when you need to.

 

I re-iterate, running as root, you are heading for troubles when you screw something up. And as a newbie, you will most likely do it too since newbies don't really know what they're doing.

 

So I guess, that's one reason not to run as root.

[G_Rammstein]

Just new to mandriva, i've been using suse for quite a long time. Think i can figure things around. Anyway, thanks, that is what i am actually doing. I quit logging in graph as root, cause i'm too lazy :D . :P

Thanks again.