self inflicted wound--root password

[rlaconte]

I recently installed openSuse after using Mandriva for a while. In Mandriva I was able to su to root and then use

passwd -d root

to disable the root password. In my case the password is an unnecessary nuisance.

I tried this on openSUSE this morning, and now I get the message "SU returned with an error" if I try to use Yast or anything else that requires root permission.

Is there any way, short of reinstalling openSUSE, that I can fix this?

Thanks

[conram]

Originally Posted by rlaconte

I recently installed openSuse after using Mandriva for a while. In Mandriva I was able to su to root and then use

passwd -d root

to disable the root password. In my case the password is an unnecessary nuisance.

I tried this on openSUSE this morning, and now I get the message "SU returned with an error" if I try to use Yast or anything else that requires root permission.

Is there any way, short of reinstalling openSUSE, that I can fix this?

Thanks

You deleted the root password
Try logging in as root and see if you can login with suse not asking for the password. Maybe best is using yast to configure it without the root using a password if it is permissible.

[geoffro]

You may feel that have to use is an "unnecessary nuisance" but this is part of what makes Linux so secure and free from viruses and malware.
To get it back have a read here and here

Geoff

Originally Posted by rlaconte

I recently installed openSuse after using Mandriva for a while. In Mandriva I was able to su to root and then use

passwd -d root

to disable the root password. In my case the password is an unnecessary nuisance.

I tried this on openSUSE this morning, and now I get the message "SU returned with an error" if I try to use Yast or anything else that requires root permission.

Is there any way, short of reinstalling openSUSE, that I can fix this?

Thanks

[conram]

There was an old thread here regarding the password recovery.
How to reset lost root password - openSUSE Forums

See if it will help.

Opps there was another link from geoffro that is almost similar and more clear.
Anyway I think the link originated from this archived thread if memory serves.

[rlaconte]

Thanks for the good advice. Took me a while to read it all and try all the suggestions. Unfortunately, none of them worked.

I was able to boot in as root and enter and confirm a new password. That should have fixed it. But when I booted back into the openSUSE GUI, I continued to receive the "SU returned an error" message whenever I tried to get root privileges.

So I stopped trying and just reinstalled openSUSE. No more problem.

geoffro, I appreciate the benefit that unix password protection affords. For people who use a computer for important things whether at work or at home, it is foolish to try to bypass it. But I've been retired for over 20 years and use my computer strictly for fun. It is essentially a toy with which I play. There is absolutely nothing on it of any value, not even my real name. Without any data to lose or dependence on the machine for anything but enjoyment, entering the root password is just an annoying interruption. Especially in my case. I don't use my comp to play games or look at videos, etc. I test software and try to learn the computer's capabilities. So I require root privileges much more often than people who do useful things.

If I can't turn it off in openSuse, I'll probably go back to Mandriva or some other distribution that will let me, even (perish the thought) Windows.

[geoffro]

If that's the case just run it as root if you don't mind breaking things

Originally Posted by rlaconte

...
geoffro, I appreciate the benefit that unix password protection affords. For people who use a computer for important things whether at work or at home, it is foolish to try to bypass it. But I've been retired for over 20 years and use my computer strictly for fun. It is essentially a toy with which I play.... ..

[ken_yap]

Originally Posted by rlaconte

geoffro, I appreciate the benefit that unix password protection affords. For people who use a computer for important things whether at work or at home, it is foolish to try to bypass it. But I've been retired for over 20 years and use my computer strictly for fun. It is essentially a toy with which I play. There is absolutely nothing on it of any value, not even my real name. Without any data to lose or dependence on the machine for anything but enjoyment, entering the root password is just an annoying interruption. Especially in my case. I don't use my comp to play games or look at videos, etc. I test software and try to learn the computer's capabilities. So I require root privileges much more often than people who do useful things.

If you are not connected to the Net or you don't mind the risk of shooting yourself in the foot, feel free to run as root. Most likely nothing will happen, but then again, the need to run as root is much less than people seem to imagine. Especially if you are just "testing software". If you had said experimenting with hardware I might agree you have some justification. It also prevents you from learning about the Unix/Linux permission system.

However to clear a misconception, what is valuable to intruders is not just your data, but your computer's connections. Sure, some identity details would be nice to steal, but even without sensitive data a computer connected to a broadband connection makes a nice spam spreading machine.

[growbag]

rlancote:

Have a quick look at this thread:

How to solve kdesu´s prompt for a password in openSUSE 11.0 - openSUSE Forums

...then the easiest way is to follow the instructions here:

Default kdesu to use sudo and not su | Ben Kevan's Blog

It depends on which version of KDE you are using (if you are using KDE of course!),

It makes the whole desktop much smoother, it won't even prompt you for a password when your account is admin capable, and is better than running as root as some software actually refuses to run, and you might get the annoying "running as superuser" message on each login.

I understand the nuisance factor, especially if you are a little older and or have memory problems or sight problems, and that will fix it.

Have fun

but, IF it is connected to the net, and IF a root kit gets installed, it could
join the legion of windoz bots in pumping out spam, etc..