OSX Root

[Paladin9]

Is there a way to make a normal user in OSX be just like the root account?

[Pantso]

Have you activated the root user or not? By default the root user in OS X is de-activated. If not you can activate the root user either from inside Netinfo or from the terminal, by typing:

Code: [Select]

and giving your new root password.

If, on the other hand you have activated the root user and just want to give yourself root priviledges, open up a terminal window and type:

Code: [Select]

and then your password. I don't know if I'm missing something.    :confused:

[ May 04, 2003: Message edited by: Panos ]

[billy_gates]

quote:Originally posted by Panos:
Have you activated the root user or not? By default the root user in OS X is de-activated. If not you can activate the root user either from inside Netinfo or from the terminal, by typing:

Code: [Select]

and giving your new root password.

If, on the other hand you have activated the root user and just want to give yourself root priviledges, open up a terminal window and type:

Code: [Select]

and then your password. I don't know if I'm missing something.    :confused:  [/b]

I alsways used

Code: [Select]

but it might not matter

[Pantso]

Ooops, you're right Billy Gates. I got a bit carried away back there and typed the whole word. I don't know however if it works that way too. Anyway, thanks for noticing. I'll just edit the previous post.  

[Paladin9]

I know my root account and use it sometimes, but I have a regular account that I normally use that I want to give root permission.  I dont want it to be just an "administrator" account.

[billy_gates]

quote:Originally posted by Paladin9:
I know my root account and use it sometimes, but I have a regular account that I normally use that I want to give root permission.  I dont want it to be just an "administrator" account.

this won't help, but ur playing with fire.  Even linux people say not to use root, a mac might be very at risk if there was a root user commonly using it.

[trc3]

quote:Originally posted by Paladin9:
I know my root account and use it sometimes, but I have a regular account that I normally use that I want to give root permission.  I dont want it to be just an "administrator" account.

No, don't use root as your everyday user, it's really easy to mess your system up if you have root permissions all the time.  If you need to use root just open up the terminal or log out and back in.

[xyle_one]

um, i would suggest against being a root user all the time.

[Paladin9]

I know! I know!  I dont care.  I just want to know how to make a normal account like the root account if it is possible.  I dont care about the risks.

[xyle_one]

i think administrator is as close as you are going to get. i am not aware of actually creating a user as powerful as root.

[flap]

Just login as root instead. Why do you want to do this?

[Pantso]

There is no way that you can turn a normal (Administrator I presume) account behave like the root one. The principle is the same in OS X, as is in all Unices or Unix-like OSes. There's only one root account, which you can access from the terminal as a normal user.

[dot.this]

I've been using OS X for about a year, and, after briefly trying admin login, have always logged in as root. I've had no, repeat, NO problems because of it. It makes a lot of things much easier, too. I never have to open up the terminal and type in stuff to extend my privileges, for instance. I just have them, like I did with OS 9.

I think the fears are unfounded. I haven't found anyone who'll say what problems they've had as a result of root login; they just repeat the claim that it's "risky". In my experience, it's not.

[xyle_one]

quote:Originally posted by dot.this:
I've been using OS X for about a year, and, after briefly trying admin login, have always logged in as root. I've had no, repeat, NO problems because of it. It makes a lot of things much easier, too. I never have to open up the terminal and type in stuff to extend my privileges, for instance. I just have them, like I did with OS 9.

I think the fears are unfounded. I haven't found anyone who'll say what problems they've had as a result of root login; they just repeat the claim that it's "risky". In my experience, it's not.

its risky when you do not know what you are doing, and decide to do some "house cleaning". or decide to change files or something stupid like that.. i guess if you are a "power" user, go ahead and use root, but it generally is good practive to login is a normal or admin user.

[Faust]

Won't every binary he runs run as root?  Thats not good...  especially if you get a trojan...