No longer SU to root...

[andycrofts]

Weird!
Using SuSE Pro 9.0.
In a >CTRL><ALT><F1> terminal, I can login as root OK.
In a KDE terminal, (logged in as a normal user) typing "su -" gives me the password prompt. When entering it correctly, I'm still myself! If I get the password wrong, I'm given "incorrect password".
That's not all!
YAST won't let me in as root, even with the root password! I'm told the password's wrong, even though it aint!

Argh! This worked yesterday - I don't think I changed anything significant.

Where should I look???

-Andy

[Hayl]

the first thing i would try is to log in log in as root on the console (TTY).

and then do:

passwd root


reset the password to the same thing it already is.

then try logging in as root in X.

[andycrofts]

..that was the first thing I tried :-(
Apart from a 'standard' monthly update (from SuSE download) yesterday, no other changes.

AND I can login as root user to KDE (red background, bombs and all!)

Obviously I must've inadvertently changed something. Can't think for the life of me, what...

<edit> Also removed me as user, home directory an' all, reinstated me, still same...</edit>

[Hayl]

check the logs and see if there are any "PAM" errors

also - some distros require that you be in the "wheel" group for you to be able to su. look in /etc/group and see if you are in that group... SuSE may not use it tho.

[andycrofts]

Got it.
Yep, the system logs were a great help...yesterday, I was looking (just looking, honest!) at the LDAP tools, 'cos I need to get up to speed on ldap for work.
Someone (my 4-year old son usually blames Mimmi the cat for any breakages/spillages/etc) must've clicked "Use LDAP" for authorisation. I'd never do anything as daft...must've been Mimmi, after all...
Excellent example of the need of restricting Root access!!!

-Cheers
-Andy