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Thread: Cute

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    WA
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    2,186
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Cute

    Don't get me wrong, I think it's very sweet. I have had a root window open on my desktop for the past 15 years, and just now..

    The thought that the os that perfected the 2 and 3 letter command would even suggest that I would add another 4 letters to every command.

    Blasphemy, but sweet nonetheless.

    fubar@foo-laptop:~$ xx -
    Password:
    To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
    See "man sudo_root" for details.

    root@foo-laptop:~#
    Last edited by iponeverything; October 17th, 2008 at 06:45 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

    Re: Cute

    It's because the root has a random generated password in Ubuntu. In a default install, the user does not know the root-password. But with it's own password, he can execute commands as root.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Beans
    2,132

    Re: Cute

    Quote Originally Posted by BackwardsDown View Post
    It's because the root has a random generated password in Ubuntu. In a default install, the user does not know the root-password. But with it's own password, he can execute commands as root.
    I've never understood the reasoning behind this, but whatever.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    52°38'41.6"N/1°19'43.6"E
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    Re: Cute

    If you want to set the root password to a known one, do this:

    Code:
    sudo passwd root
    and enter your desired root password twice...

    Now you can use "su" to stay as root etc

    Hope that helps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    WA
    Beans
    2,186
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Re: Cute

    Quote Originally Posted by BackwardsDown View Post
    It's because the root has a random generated password in Ubuntu. In a default install, the user does not know the root-password. But with it's own password, he can execute commands as root.
    The default is that root accounted is locked out. In shadow for the passwd field you will see :*: Well, considering that there is no salt, it can't be be decrypted.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Beans
    921

    Re: Cute

    Quote Originally Posted by cardinals_fan View Post
    I've never understood the reasoning behind this, but whatever.
    I think it's because if a hacker compromises a user's account, the next time the user initiates the su command, the hacker is able to gain access to root privileges as well. Using sudo, there is a timeout in place so that it encourages users to not run as root all the time. In addition, sudo can be fine tuned to give users certain permission to run certain commands, whereas using su is basically and all-or-nothing approach. Also, most hackers will try to target the root account first. With Ubuntu, the root account has a scrambled password that is many characters long. In this sense, you are safer because the password is almost impossible to crack.

    Of course, I don't think it makes an ounce of difference either.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Beans
    1,133
    Distro
    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Cute

    If you need run a lot of commands as root you can use sudo -i or sudo -l to get a root command prompt. Don't forget to exit when you're done!
    There are no dumb questions, just dumb answers.

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