no root passwd debian

[Chris Aitken]

Colin McGregor wrote:
> --- Chris Aitken <chris-n/jUll39koHNgV/OU4+dkA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
>   
>> Jamon Camisso wrote:
>>     
>>> On November 18, 2007 04:56:02 pm
>>>       
>> chris-n/jUll39koHNgV/OU4+dkA at public.gmane.org wrote:
>>     
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> I just installed ubuntu. It never asked for a
>>>>         
>> root password. It asked
>>     
>>>> me to create a user but never a root password.
>>>>         
>> Now I can't do
>>     
>>>> administrative tasks without it.
>>>>
>>>> This is my first ever debian experience.
>>>>
>>>> !?
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>> Two things:
>>> 1) Ubuntu != Debian
>>>   
>>>       
>> Does that mean "Debian /really/ equals ubuntu"?
>>     
>>> 2) sudo passwd root, you'll then be able to use su
>>>       
>> to become root.
>> Okay that did it - thanks.
>>
>>     
>>> You 
>>> can also use sudo -i now, without setting a root
>>>       
>> password, just use 
>>     
>>> your regular user's password for sudo.
>>>   
>>>       
>> I read the man page for sudo (really). I'm still
>> confused. Is sudo for 
>> doing administrative tasks without becoming root?
>>     
>
> Basically yes. The traditional use for sudo was in
> situations where an ordinary user might need to run
> 2-3 commands that use root privilege without giving
> them the ability to run everything at root level. So
> for example user Jane Jones might need to "mount" and
> "umount" a USB hard drive on a system. With sudo Jane
> Jones' user ID is put into the sudoers list, along
> with permission to run "mount" and "umount" (while
> blocking her access to other "dangerous" commands like
> say mkfs). Now, one of the options with sudo is to
> allow a user to run all commands (which then turns
> sudo into just a reminder that the command you are
> about to run is potentially toxic). Put another way
> sudo is just one more option when it comes to tighten
> down security.
>   
That's a nice clear explanation. Thank you,

Chris
>   
>> Chris
>>     
>>> Jamon
>>>       
>
> Colin McGregor
>
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>   

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