Re: SuSE, Raid (was: Microsoft takes on ACT)

[Preben Randhol <randhol+abuse@pvv.org>]

On Sun, 26 May 2002 00:45:48 +0100, chris.danx wrote:
> 
> 
> what is 'su'?  Typing a line in for the above mentioned install script,
> gives a password prompt with 'su' (seems to be the root password, the user
> password failed and brain was off!), but with 'sh' it gives the above error.
> Why is that?  Is 'su' an elevated 'sh'?  If so that might be the problem
> with the install script.

On Windows 9X, ME, XP there is not such a clear distinction between root
(administrator) and the user. In Unix and Linux one have a super user
called root which has access to all files. You should never use this
account for your normal business. I mean you must create a user called
say chris and you log in as chris on your computer and run the
applications you want. You must not do this logged in as root. The
reason is that if you do something stupid like trying to delete /usr
when you are logged in as chris you will get an Access Denied, as root
it will be done and you cannot undo it.

But every time you need to install, update or remove some software you
need to do this as root. So to become root you type in a shell:
su
and then give the root password.
when you have done the updating you type exit (or hit Ctrl+d) and you
close the root session. 

   http://derisilab.ucsf.edu/UCSFLinuxSecurity.html

-- 
"Jeg tror nordmenn har glemt hvordan de tilbreder fisk. De er mest
 opptatt av firkantet fisk."
  --  Kristian Kristiansen, yrkesfisker, aftenposten.no 19/04/02