Future of root account

Noratio · #1 2009-11-02, 02:13 PM CST

Hello,
I've been on idle for a while, so was suprised while was told by software developer that linux is going to be like OSX, Ubuntu already is, disabling the 'root' account completely. Adminstation would be done as sudoers. First thing I did last Ubuntu install was creating a root account. So how will it be? Shall this happen on fedora and other distros? I need to emphasize I'm familiar with sudo convention, never liked to have user password for root priviledges as Ubuntu is by default.

tjvanwyk · #2 2009-11-02, 02:32 PM CST

Thing is, you can't really "get rid" of the root account entirely. It's just that the root account is not an account you can log into. (I think if you look at the processes running on an Ubuntu box, a number of system processes will still be owned by root.)

I think it's silly. Then again I've a penchant for the old school (even though I'm young) - I like to su to root, do what I need to do with root powers, and log out. I rarely set up sudo on distros that don't have it set up by default, and the sudo stuff is one of the things about Ubuntu that grinds my gears. (I also don't like being told I can't use a root X session if I damn well please.)

Whatever floats your boat and finds your lost remote. I just don't particularly care for the trend.

Evil_Bert · #3 2009-11-02, 05:28 PM CST

There have been rumours (some on this forum, IIRC) that Fedora might follow Ubuntu down the sudo road. I, for one, certainly hope not. It's a very convenient way to get things done ... and until everything works out-of-the-box in Fedora, I think I'll always want root around.

Dies · #4 2009-11-02, 05:45 PM CST

Well, I for one hope they make it impossible to log in graphically as root.

I've never needed to do such a thing, even when I was a newbie. On a stock Fedora install there is nothing that you can do graphically as root that you can't do graphically as a user.

Plus in the future it could avoid silly posts like this one where the guy complains about issues running "the closed-source Adobe player is buggy enough" as root and then says that the devs "Fedora or Gnome guys, whoever is responsible for this, should at least fix the error message".

Evil_Bert · #5 2009-11-02, 05:51 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dies

On a stock Fedora install there is nothing that you can do graphically as root that you can't do graphically as a user.

There's a difference between logging in graphically as root and having the root identity (and access permissions) available when you need it.

And who said the installs had to remain stock?

tjvanwyk · #6 2009-11-02, 05:57 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dies

Well, I for one hope they make it impossible to log in graphically as root.

Well, I for one don't like when either the GDM team or Fedora devs would assume that I'm too bloody stupid to make my own decisions regarding how I log in.

**scottro** · #7 2009-11-02, 06:09 PM CST

There are several long, acrimonious, threads about this. Many people don't like it, and many have the attitude that those who want to do it, shouldn't. <shrug>.

Folks, I'm going to close this one, as the OP has more or less had their question answered, and there are literally dozens of fights about it, some still open.

Any other staff member who feels I've been hasty, feel free to reopen it.