can't run gnome as root - addition

[Joep L. Blom]

On 02-10-12 13:38, Mark Widdicombe wrote:
> On 2 October 2012 13:16, Lentes, Bernd
> <bernd.lentes at helmholtz-muenchen.de> wrote:
>>
>> Colin wrote:
>>>
>>> On 2 October 2012 10:14, Lentes, Bernd
>>> <bernd.lentes at helmholtz-muenchen.de> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Thom wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 3:30 PM, Lentes, Bernd
>>>>> <bernd.lentes at helmholtz-muenchen.de> wrote:
>>>>>> Luan wrote:
>>>>>>> On Mon, 2012-10-01 at 17:28 +0200, Lentes, Bernd wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sorry, i forgot: i'm running LTS 64bit.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> try:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> $sudo passwd root - to enable root
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> and:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> $sudo passwd -l root - to disable root account.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> i did this already. But logging on Gnome using the root account
>>>>>> didn't suceed. After logging on I have a turning wheel
>>> for half an
>>>>>> hour, than I gave up.
>>>>>
>>>>> Enabling the root user won't be enough. You're going to
>>> have to change
>>>>> LightDM (assuming that this is your DM) preferences and
>>> possibly pam
>>>>> preferences too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why can't you use sudo/gksudo/pkexec as NoOp suggested?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> i'd like to use Gnome. Why i don't use sudo ? Because i'm
>>> used to not use it.
>>>> I'm using Suse boxes for more than 10 years, and Suse does
>>> not make this sudo staff.
>>>> But now i have one piece of software for which i get only
>>> support running on Ubunto or Centos.
>>>> I decided für Ubuntu.
>>>> One argument for not logging on as root is the argument,
>>> that you can easily make heavy errors.
>>>> Well, i'm not using Ubuntu and Suse as a desktop
>>> environment, for this purpose i use Windows.
>>>> So, when i log in in a linux box, it's just for
>>> administrative purpose.
>>>> When i'm causing trouble, it's my problem. I know that.
>>>> On my suse boxes, i do 95% of my administrative tasks using
>>> a shell, not having a DM.
>>>> But i'm new to Ubuntu, so in the beginning it's likely that
>>> i want use the DM from time to time.
>>>> When i'm used to Ubuntu, the DM will be uninstalled.
>>>
>>> If you are only going to use the DM occasionally then I think it will
>>> be easier to learn how to use sudo and gksu to do what you want than
>>> it will be trying to get the UI to run as root.
>>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> why do i have to adapt the OS ? I think the OS should adapt to the needs and wishes of the user as far as possible.
>
> Of course you have to adapt to the OS.  There is a limit to the amount
> of configurability it is possible to build in from a practical point
> of view.
>
>> I KNOW that it is not the recommended way to login to X as root, but i did it often and never got any problems.
>> It's my box, and if i'm making an error, it's my problem.
>
> If you know it's not recommended why do it?  sudo is extremely easy to use.
>
>> The only error i did happened on a terminal, not in a GUI.
>> I'm not used to sudo and all ist friends, and i don't like to use it.
>> In a car the blinker is always on the left side, and no manufactur installed it on the right side, expecting that all the drivers will adapt.
>
> Try Toyota,--had a hire car once and every time I signalled a turn the
> wipers came on.
>
>> OS like suse, RedHat, fedora also don't use this way with sudo, so it can't be dangerous. I can't imagine that these distributors will provide a inherent unsecure OS.
>
> Why are you using an OS you clearly don't like, instead of ones that
> you obviously perceive as superior?
>
I agree with Mark completely! If you use root you're dangerous for 
yourself and others who are dependent of you.
I work with unix-like OS's since 1971 when intrusion, theft, etc was 
unthinkable but we never used root as a user. Don't forget: root is 
omnipotent - just as each user in Windows when he has the knowledge, 
(luckily 99 % doesn't) -.
RedHat, Suse FEdora all warn against the use of root as user. Moreover, 
the su command is as old as Unix. Only a later fad is sudo but actually, 
when I have need for a root environment I use su -l, do the necessary 
task and delete the environment. Root as user is never a necessity. If 
you have a problem you think you only can solve as root ask it this 
community and we'll try to find a solution.
Joep