[101978] in RedHat Linux List
Re: 'root'' login vs. 'standard user' login
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Deryk Barker)
Mon Nov 30 17:15:49 1998
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 14:15:06 -0800
From: Deryk Barker <dbarker@camosun.bc.ca>
To: redhat-list@redhat.com
In-Reply-To: <007d01be1cac$24f59720$f80a020a@tech.chuhpl.lib.oh.us>; from George Lenzer on Mon, Nov 30, 1998 at 04:55:29PM -0500
Resent-From: redhat-list@redhat.com
Reply-To: redhat-list@redhat.com
Thus spake George Lenzer (glenzer@chuhpl.lib.oh.us):
> I have noticed that when I install programs on my system, they typically
> install to /usr/local/bin/... However, I always log in as 'root' since
> there are many things I can't do as a "standard user" that I need to do. I
> would like to avoid having to su to root every time I need to bring up a ppp
> connection or access certain devices. Is there any way I can give a
> "standard user" account the abilities of 'root' or should I add the
> /usr/local/bin path to my PATH in .bash_profile for root? i am not
> concerned about security since this is all on my home network and no one
> else in my family is into "hacking". ;)
It will all end in tears!
Seriously, you should *never* log on as root unless you absolutely
have to, it is too easy to wreck the system by accidentally doing
something you didn't mean to (e.g. typing "rm -rf *" while in /... - I
speak as someone who once brought an entire Multics system down simply
by typing "lsrb 3 3 5 **" in the wrong directory) This has nothing to
do with security or networking. You could be the only user of a
standalone system and you still shouldn't log on as root unless
absolutely necessary.
Perhaps you could expound on what these "many things" you need to be
root for....
--
|Deryk Barker, Computer Science Dept. | Music does not have to be understood|
|Camosun College, Victoria, BC, Canada| It has to be listened to. |
|email: dbarker@camosun.bc.ca | |
|phone: +1 250 370 4452 | Hermann Scherchen. |
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