Can not login as root, can su [Solved]

69_rs_ss · n00b Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 65 Location: NY, USA

I just finished install on a new box and for some reason I can not log in as root. When trying to login, it gives me a login incorrect error. When I log into the box as a regular user and the try to su, it logs in correct. Although I never log in as root, I would like to figure out how to correct this. Thanks in advance.

59729 · Apprentice Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 279

I am sure someone else can answer your question just wanted to drop in and tell you that it's a good thing to now allow root logins..
A while back when I got back from a vacation I checked my auth.log I found one ip trying to login to my box 'he had been doing it for a couple of days' , doing a 'grep -c root auth.log' revealed that he/the script? tried to login well I don't remember but it was alot around ~8000 or more times

If you still want to allow it and no one has answered when I awake tomorrow I will take a look at my config and post it

Mark Nye · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Ithaca, NY

You could try first just su'ing to root and changing your root password. That might do it.
It's possible also to disable root login in the /etc/securetty file, so you could take a look there.

Are we talking just a regular terminal login, or are you trying to log in with SSH or under X11?

tukachinchila · Apprentice Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 274 Location: Oregon

Are you trying to log in directly, or through ssh?
If you're trying to ssh in, there's an option in the config file:

Mark Nye · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Ithaca, NY

69_rs_ss · n00b Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 65 Location: NY, USA

This is just trying to log in directly, not through ssh. I have yet to set up ssh on this box, just trying to complete the initial install. Since I don't log in directly as root much anyway, it isn't a big issue since I can log in as a regular user and the su up. I was just curious of a way to fix this. I will try su'ing then changing the password as soon as xorg is done emerging. Thanks for the help so far.

Mark Nye · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 39 Location: Ithaca, NY

BlackEdder · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:38 am Post subject:

You can disable login in as root from console in the /etc/securetty file. By default it should be ok, but if you did echo "tts/0" > /etc/securetty instead of echo "tts/0" >> /etc/securetty you will have overwritten it.

69_rs_ss · n00b Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 65 Location: NY, USA

That worked perfectly BlackEdder. I checked the /etc/securetty file and it only listed tts/0 so I just used the config you posted and copied it into mine. After login out and trying again, it worked perfectly. Thanks for everyones help.