Dumb Question: How do I get Root Access?

[dhyatt]

Ok, I'm Running RedHat 7.1 and this is the 1st Distro I've ever run that automatically configured everything on install. Including my Road Runner Internet...I exstatic! Anyway, I just downloaded Flash 5 plugin and am following the directions to copy the files but it wont let me saying I don't have root access...denied. So how then do I get root access? Please help!

[cabu1966]

You can either login as root or you can type su at the console or an xterm and give the root password.

[EyesWideOpen]

Don't login as root
Security isn't good
Use su command

[dhyatt]

That's not working either. It's just saying access denied.

[tallulah]

If it still isn't working, check to make sure that permission is granted to root to execute the file. I've had that problem, which resulted in access being denied even to root.

[Tualha Khan]

Try to do a 'chmod 777 <filename>' on the shell prompt and then see if you can start the script.

Bye,
Tualha Khan

[dhyatt]

Loging in as root worked perfectly. I still can't do it by using the su command at terminal which I'd prefer. I don't have a clue yet how to go about changing the permissions....can someone tell me how I go about that? Also how the shell do I chmod the what??? I'm not playing on ftp! Or did I miss something?

Thanks for all the help everyone! I couldn't figure this out without you!

[EyesWideOpen]

To change the permissions on a file or directory you use the chmod command (which is not exclusive to FTP). For more information on this command type man chmod.

To open the permissions on a file/directory wide open (i.e., read/write/execute permissions for user, group and other) you would do chmod 777 file_or_directory where file_or_directory is the name of the file or directory whose permissions you wish to change.

I'm not sure why you can't use the su command when logged in as a normal user. This shouldn't make a difference but try su root instead of just su (again man su will give you more info).

[posidamuS]

I was having the same problem trying to install a modem. I used cd(change directory) then typed out the rest of the executionary comands and had no problem, but I also typed su under an xterm! You must be root! :eek:

[Linuxcool]

Try using su use su - ( that's a space followed by a hyphen ). Using su by itself doesn't give you root's path, you keep the user's path. Using su - will give you root's path.

[ 09 August 2001: Message edited by: Linuxcool ]

[jbstew32]

DO NOT chmod 777 something like /anything it gives EVERYONE read write permissions. very bad unless you are doing it to a single, unimportant file.