[ubuntu-uk] Creating 'root' account. (sudo, recovery mode)

[Paul Sladen]

On Mon, 6 Aug 2007, Adam Funk wrote:
> I can think of one situation where you really need a root password
> set: booting in rescue mode.

On a default Ubuntu with the root account locked, selecting "(recovery
mode)" will drop one straight to a root shell, without requiring a password.

The idea behind this is simple;  the only time time that somebody really
needs to do some form of recovery, is when the machine is in a very bad
state.  Handling a really broken machine/forgotten password is a stressful
experience---the least that can be done is to optimise the recovery
operation by getting a user what they need, fast and efficiently.

If the user /has/ altered the default setting and set a root password, then
selecting "(recovery mode)" will require that shared root password to be
entered.

The set root password can be disabled again with:

  sudo passwd -l

	-Paul
-- 
Why do one side of a triangle when you can do all three.   Helsinki, FI