RE: Debian 7.1 root password issue.
Michael Collins wrote:
> SANG KIM <sangkim8986 <at> msn.com> writes:
> >
> > I recently installed debian 7.1 and I reinstalled it at least five
> times. I've tried installing it with a root password created and without and Debian still won't let me log in as root. It says "authentication failed" after I type in the root password.
> >
> > I've tried reinstalling it without creating a root password and it
> > still
> won't let me log in. I get the same message as before. I can log in as another user, but not as root. I've checked the passwords entered and every time the password is correct, but Debian says that it's not. How can I fix these issues.
> >
> > I've tried to use the password command to remove whatever password I
> created/didn't create and I get an error message that the password command cannot be found in BASH. Is there something wrong with the Debian 7.1? I can't even install updates to the OS.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> Log in with the user account. Left-click the user account name (upper right corner), select system settings, select user, left-click Unlock.
> Enter the root password. Change the user account to an administrator.
>
> What a pita!
>
> Regards,
> MC
As a new Linux/Debian user I have been doing the "not recommended" thing (at least I think it says it's not recommended; it has been a while since my last install) thing of not setting a password for root. That way there's no hoops to jump through to the installer puts my intended user account into the sudoers list. Now the steps to do this manually are re-described above I realize that under Gnome it's not actually that hard to do (when making my install selections I had memories of the manual way trying to edit the sudoers file, which for a new user is a little daunting. I recall it taking me a few attempts to get it to work. The installer gave me an easy way out).
That brings me to my point; due to my installer choices, I cannot log in under root on the three systems that I have installed so far. Right now I have no reason to believe that this is or ever will be an issue since I can use sudo and that feels safer to me. Does anyone have any different opinions on this? (These are home systems and predominantly for learning Linux/Debian at this point, as opposed to being core systems that are depended upon for daily use, although one day in the not too distant future I hope to change this).
Cheers.
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