Root! Root! Root!

[albi at scii.nl]

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:49:16 -0800
gary hypes <ghypes at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm encountering what appears to be a weird problem with 'root' user.
> 
> When I installed Ubuntu, as I recall, it didn't allow me to configure
> a 'root' user/password. All I created was a single personal username
> and password.
> 
> Now, when I try using functionality that requires root authority, I
> can run the 'root terminal' and it accepts the same password I use for
> my personal username. HOWEVER: if I try logging in as 'root' directly,
> it refuses to accept the same password.
> 
> Have I missed something?
> 

yes, ubuntu uses sudo be default, with a disabled root login

> My secondary problem: the reason for playing around in root is that I
> mis-configured my ethernet card and I need to change it -- but the
> network config app won't let me change the configuration without root
> privileges, and I haven't figured out how to launch the network config
> app from within the root terminal..

you can do the following :

*) get into your root-terminal
*) type in : passwd root
*) use your network app as root with the new password