Re: [aclug-L] UserGroup

["T. Wasson" <wassontj@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Azli Hashim wrote:

> It is the root that cannot log in and we do not have any other super user.  
> We cannot even
> "ping" cause we cannot even get to root.  We couldn't seem to be able to undo 
> what

>From "Linux Unleashed 3rd Edition"
"...use a boot floppy and boot the system.  Mount the root partition, and edit 
the
/etc/password file to remove any password for root, then reboot from the hard 
disk.  After
the system has booted you can set a password again."

Yes, this means that anyone with a Linux boot disk can have unrestricted access 
to your
system.

in the /etc/password file is an entry for root, it should look like this:
root:blahblah:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

The entry you are interested in is the blahblah between the two colons.  It is 
the root
password, but encoded.  Just remove the blahblah, leave the two colons, reboot, 
and then root
should let you log in without a password.  Once you are in, change the password.

I don't know anything about the adding user to the group root, or what effect 
that had on
your system.

First time posting to the list, hope to make it to the meeting tomorrow.  Maybe 
I'll see you
there.

Hope this helps.

Tim Wasson
Linux user since Nov 98
Lurker on ACLUG list since Jan or so

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