Enabling root login in ubuntu

Posted by Shashank Krishna Friday, January 23, 2009


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Many of you must have noticed that root login in ubuntu is disabled in default. Even su doesnt work. The ubuntu documentation says that “ubuntu is shipped with root account is locked“. Actually its a good move. The newcomers to ubuntu do not want to get frightened hearing the name ‘root‘. If you have moved passed the n00b stage you might want to unlock it.
Firstly you should set the root password. Login to ubuntu with the user which you created during installation. Go to System> Administration> Users and Groups. Select root. Click on Properties. Set the root password.
Secondly enable the root login. Click on System> Administration> Login Window. Click on Security tab. Check “Allow local administrator login“. Click on OK.
Everything is done. Now logout and log in with your root account.

A Word of CAUTION: Use your root account only when absolutely necessary. Never user root account for daily works. For regular work use the account created at installation time.
Reason: Root is the superuser. It has got all the unrestricted privileges to perform any tasks. Its like “I can do anything“.
While running as normal user you would be prompted for your password when you try to make a major change to system settings. Thus you would be alerted that your step is making some changes if you are ignorant of the step you are taking.
A virus is a program or script that intends to harm your system by changing the settings or configuration. At that stage you would be prompted for password, thus you can get warned.

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Shashank Krishna
Bangalore, up, India
nothin much to say.........doin B.tech in IIIT allahabad loves bloggingn hacking.... :) and loooves blogging
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