Ambrogio wrote: > Il giorno mer, 19/07/2006 alle 12.07 +0200, Trond Danielsen ha scritto: > >> I am shure others have said this before, and it is not an answer to >> you question, but there is _really_ no need to log into X as root. >> There are numerous reasons why you should not do this. Use su or sudo >> to gain root access as a normal user. > I don't want to start a flame, but there are 2 arguments in my mail. > > First is: why stopped working screensaver. > This is a real problem. I don't know if the bug was before or is now :-) > > Second is: > I know that "all" says, don't log as root. And I also say to don't. > > But I think also that if I say to someone to not log as root, is because > I know that HI/SHE is dangerous. And I don't teach to use su or sudo. > > I think that if I use su or sudo, I become as dangerous as if I'm logged > as root. > So what is the advantage to become root when needed. > I think that if I will asked for root password everytime I start a > service (at least 10 times in an hour) or if I asked for password > everytime is needed I will become nervous. If you are starting services "at least 10 times in an hour", then there is something wrong with your setup. Most services are start at boot and forget about them. If it is a seldom needed service, you might considering starting it on demand from from xinetd instead of manualy starting it. > The same for shell (I use it very very often). No. I use everytime the > shell. I use it for all things. > So I have to issue su - root, give password and work as root. What is > the difference? What are you doing that you need to do everything as root? Most people manage to do almost everything without having to change to root. > Or I have to configure sudo for my user, that is the same as permit to > user all as root. > What is the difference? > And what about upgrade, installing software and so on? > One big difference when using sudo is that you can only run specific commands as root. This is not the same as full root access. If I set it up so a user can run "sudo fdformat /dev/fd0" the the user can format a floppy, but not the hard drive. You can give very limited root access that way. It also has the advantage that they do not need to know the root password. If you have a user that you trust to install software for the entire system, then you could set up sudo to run yumex or one of the other GUI package managers. For most packages, you can build them to install in the user's home difectory tree if it is just for that user. > I'm working on production server every days, with root password or sudo > configured, and never happens something wrong. > I'm using linux on my laptops for at least 3 years. I changed 3 laptops, > started on fedora core 1 until core 5. > Everytime backing up my data, reinstalling OS, and restoring my data, > configuring my apps and so on. > Everytime as root and without any kind of problems. > I don't understand why now I have to not use root. > I think Linux is an expression of my freedom using PC. So if I want to > use root, I can (whit my own risk, but with full functionality). > Why screensaver wont work as root I don't undersand. It is more probably > a programmers choice, not a system choise. > This is like the person that does not back up the system because they have been running it for 4 years now, and they have never needed backups. You also sound like one apprentice I had back when I worked construction. He did not believe he needed to remove his rungs before starting work. After all, he had been doing it hes way for over 3 years, and nothing bad had happened to him. He is missing the finger that the ring was on after it caused a short circuit. The ring became hot enough to burn through his finger. If you are careful, you can go for years without problems. But all it takes is one careless moment. It is better to develop good habits so that the day you do become distracted, the results will not be a disaster. Mikkel -- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!
