ubuntu 10.04 and root?
When I install ubuntu 10.04 on a local PC it sets up a user with root privileges and disables the root password. However when I select the linode version I have to ssh as root. As I understand it this is a security issue that I need to change. But how do I create a new user that can act as the root and then disable the root?
I have tried searching here and google but it is info overload and confusing.
16 Replies
To solve your immediate problem do the following
adduser <username></username>
replacing
visudo
and add
<username>ALL=(ALL) ALL</username>
again replacing
Then type
passwd -l root
to lock out the root account.
I have read the beginners-guide several times but I had not found a reference to visudo. I did find one on google but it was confusing.
Then Ubuntu comes along and assumes it's users are too stupid to be trusted with it.
History has found that the safest way to use the root account is to not use the root account. That's how the greybeards pull it off.
And if I really want it the old way, sudo with "-i" or "-s" isn't much different than a plain "su".
– David
@jebblue:
Never use visudo on Ubuntu. Use sudo.
Huh?
I doubt that it would be that much difficult to get a root shell when you have a shell account with all permissions.
What is the point?
Then again, some practices never die.