Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:01:22 -0500 From: Derek Ragona <derek@computinginnovations.com> To: Jesse Sheidlower <jester@panix.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Can't log in as root on new 7.0 install Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20080414115913.024da738@mail.computinginnovations.com> In-Reply-To: <20080414163019.GA29530@panix.com> References: <20080414143503.GA8718@panix.com> <6.0.0.22.2.20080414100243.024f0008@mail.computinginnovations.com> <20080414163019.GA29530@panix.com>
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At 11:30 AM 4/14/2008, Jesse Sheidlower wrote: >On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 10:04:21AM -0500, Derek Ragona wrote: > > At 09:35 AM 4/14/2008, Jesse Sheidlower wrote: > > > > >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 > > > > I would have your helper log in as root and reboot the server. This will > > assure it is in multi-user. > > > > You should NOT be able to ssh in as root, unless you've opened up that > > security hole which is not recommended. > >My helper did successfully log in as root over the console, >and rebooted the server. However, all of my above problems are >still the case: I cannot log in as root over ssh (OK, you >addressed this), or by logging in as a regular user and doing >a "login root"; and I cannot su to root even though I'm in the >wheel group. > >When this is up and running I won't allow root logins at all, >but my issue right now is that I'm not at the console and need >to actually install things on the machine (sudo, for >example...). So aside from being on the console, how _can_ I >get this access on the machine? > >Thanks again. > >Jesse Sheidlower Are you logging in as a regular user then trying to su to root? If you are, what error are you getting? When you first login type: id and verify you are in the wheel group. -Derek -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
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