Can't su[solved]

xail · n00b Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 7

After close to a year of running as root, yes I know most of the reasons not to, I've finally made a regular user. The problem is I can't su. I'm a member of the wheel group which seemed to be the only thing my searches turned up that might be a problem. I tried changing roots password and even deleting it, but I still couldn't get privileges.

szczerb · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject:

Why would you run as root all the time? Damn, it's not windows where almost everything requiers root privileges. I honestly don't understand.

BTW Unfortunately, I can't help you....

nixnut · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

Did you log out and log in again after putting yourself in wheel?
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xail · n00b Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 7

I ran as root because I'm lazy and by the time I knew better, I started running gentoo as a complete noob, I was having issues with xorg on non-privileged users so I just kept pushing off fixing it.

The user has been wheel since he was created and yes the computer has been restarted several times with that being the case.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject:

xail,

Edit your /etc/sudoers file to allow wheel members to su.
By default, its full of commented examples
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xail · n00b Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 7

NeddySeagoon,
Thanks, I installed sudo, as I didn't have a /etc/sudoers file. I can sudo now, hurray.

I would still like to get su working if for no other reason then to figure out what was wrong, if you have any ideas. I realize that sudo is safer and usually considered a better choice then su.

timeBandit · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

If needed, see also Table of Contents :arrow:

SA: System Administration :arrow:

SA2: Why can't I su to root? (in the FAQs forum) for more possible causes.
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xail · n00b Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 7

timeBandit,
Thanks for the link. It was a permission error.

timeBandit · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

You're welcome.
Moved from Other Things Gentoo to Duplicate Threads, since the cause wasn't something new &/or exotic.
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cwc · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: su - = operation not permitted

I don't know what I did. But I was sshed into one of my servers via my gentoo work station and now
I can not get root priviledge using $su -.

I've checked the gnome gui to make sure my user is able to get admistrative permission adn that item is toggles on.

None of the users I have can get "#su -"

Any idea oh great ones?

Thanks,
cwc
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alligator421 · Apprentice Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 191

Your user must belong to the wheel group to be able to "su -".
Check /etc/group.

Nerevar · l33t Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 720

This error sounds like the suid bit is no longer set on /bin/su.

If that's the case, you can add it back after logging in as root with:

jmbsvicetto · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:46 am Post subject:

Merged above 3 posts.
Check above for alternative links.
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