Authentication failure??

[andy baxter]

Sean Carolan wrote:
>> When I try to use my password with su in the terminal
>> I get an authentication error. This is the same
>> password I log in with when I start the computer, I've
>> always used the same password...
>> What's my problem?
>>     
>
> Ubuntu's root user has no password by default.  This is a good 
> thing(tm), IMHO.  Here's how you can become root on an Ubuntu system:
>
> $ sudo /bin/su - root
>
> Enter your normal user password and you'll have a root shell.
>
>   
What are the reasons for doing it this way? If sudo is set up so you can 
do everything through it, how is this different / less risky in practice 
from having a normal root account with a separate password? (Apart from 
there being one less password to remember).

andy.