Re: Query abouut root account

[Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu>]

Bret Busby <bret@busby.net> writes:

> Hello.
>
> I have a server that is running Firestarter on Debian 5.
>
> I have forgotten the root password, and have not logged into root on
> that computer, or updated the system, for about a year, I think.
>
> I do remember a user login, and have successfully "ssh'd" into the
> system as that user.
>
> Is there some way that I can access the root account, and replace the
> password, without having to overwrite the system via installing a new
> system to replace what exists?
>
> Thank you in anticipation.

If that user login has sudo privileges, you can

sudo -s

to get a root shell and go from there.