Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:35:03 -0400 From: Jesse Sheidlower <jester@panix.com> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Can't log in as root on new 7.0 install Message-ID: <20080414143503.GA8718@panix.com>
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I've recently installed FreeBSD 7.0 on a new server. I seem to be unable to log in as root in any way, and I'm not sure why. Furthermore I'm now physically separate from the machine, and have been relying on a (non-computer-literate) colleague with access to its console server to try and help. After the initial install I (am pretty sure I) was able to log in as root over ssh. However, after a week when the machine was inaccessible for other reasons, I cannot log in as root, only as a normal user. I thought that I had perhaps mis-remembered the root password, so I directed the colleague to log in in single user mode and reset the root password; she was able to do this, and typed "exit" to return the system to multi-user mode and herself at a root prompt. However I was still not able to log in as root, either over ssh, or by logging in as a normal user and then typing "login root" (i.e. it wasn't just something preventing root logins over ssh). I then asked the colleague to add me to the "wheel" group, which she successfully did; I logged out and back in again, determined that I was indeed in this group, and tried to "su -" and got a "su: Sorry" message, with the colleague reporting that a "BAD SU [user] to root on /dev/ttyp0" message had appeared. I'm sort of at a loss for what to do or why this is happening, and am quite eager to control my own machine....Suggestions welcome. Thanks very much. Jesse Sheidlower
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