Re: su root: 'incorrect password' / RH 9

[Bob McClure Jr <robertmcclure earthlink net>]

On Thu, Nov 06, 2003 at 03:46:30PM +0200, martti pitkanen wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> 
> After installing all sp:s for RH9, I came across a root authorization 
> problem:
> As a regular user, I open 'Konsole - Super User Mode'. RH9 does not
> accept root password. Anyway, I can boot as a 'root' without problem. 
> (runlevel 5)
> After having booted as 'root', I 'su regular-user', in xterm window.
> Then I 'su root' in the same windoe, which produces the above error,
> i.e. I cannot return to 'root', even though I've booted as 'root' 
> originally.

A little bit of terminology fix, please - you do not "boot as root"
(the machine always boots as root).  You _log_in_ as root or as your
mere mortal self.

> Pls. see below the applicaple 'messages' -snippet:
> 
> Nov  6 15:28:12 Fuji2 su(pam_unix)[11527]: session opened for user root by 
> root(uid=0)
> Nov  6 15:28:17 Fuji2 su(pam_unix)[11554]: session opened for user 
> regular-user by root(uid=0)
> Nov  6 15:28:23 Fuji2 su(pam_unix)[11581]: authentication failure; 
> logname=root uid=500 euid=500 tty= ruser=regular-user rhost=  user=root
> 
> Authentication:
> Use Shadow Passwords = yes
> Use MD5 Passwords = Yes
> all other selections = no

I presume that in both cases you have assured that Caps Lock is off.

Log in as root.  Then change root's password (again, making sure that
Caps Lock is off):

  passwd

Then "su - <mere_mortal_user>", and then "su -", and see if you can su
to root.  Note, you are not "returning" to root -  you are trying to
create a new shell as root.  If it fails, you fall back to your mortal
shell.  Then "exit" and you are back to your root shell.

If all that works, log out from root and log in as your mortal self
and try 'Konsole - Super User Mode' again.

Cheers,
-- 
Bob McClure, Jr.             Bobcat Open Systems, Inc.
robertmcclure earthlink net  http://www.bobcatos.com
God answers prayers, not advice.