Being root

[Ray Leventhal]

Steven Susbauer wrote:
> Fred Roller wrote:
>>> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
>>> Van: ubuntu-users-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com namens bill
>>> Verzonden: wo 24-6-2009 12:09
>>> Aan: Ubuntu user technical support,not for general discussions
>>> Onderwerp: Being root
>>>  
>>> In unix I am used to logging on as root when I need to do a series of 
>>> administrative tasks, aware of the danger.
>>> New to linux, I haven't found a way of logging on as root or su'ing to 
>>> root. When I installed I did not enter a root password and that makes it 
>>> difficult to log in.
>>>
>>> How does one set the root password, or is this never done ?
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Bill Drescher
>>> william {at} TechServSys {dot} com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Like you Bill I needed to be root to do a number of tasks.  For the
>> occasional odds and ends I just sudo the command
>> sudo [command]
>>
>> but when there is a bit of work to be done as root then the safest
>> course is what Martijn suggested.
>>
>> sudo su -
>>
>> In this way your user password is all you need to remember and security
>> stays in place.
>>
> 
> No need, use sudo -i
> 
> 
While there's no difference in the execution of stuff as 'root' between 
actually being root or using sudo <command>, when one first does su - 
and becomes root, the root environment (paths, etc) is applied and so, 
for some things, this is required.

Like all who have said this before, use with caution...as a non-n00b, I 
use su - when needed, but for most average windows-converts and/or 
desktop users, its rarely needed in 'buntu land.

My .02
-R