Free and Open Source blogger with an attitude
Stuff about GNU/Linux distro, tips and tricks or information
Ubuntu Breezy users, a new security problem has surfaced where root password is readable to the world by merely executing this command :
Users are advised to update their Breezy installations (via automatic updates) as soon as possible to counter the bug. The problem has been fixed in Ubuntu 6.04 (Drapper Drake).
A lot of my friends has been asking me about this very question, “how to get root shell in Ubuntu”. Naturally I would ask them to use the “sudo” command as it suffice to execute any task restricted to root only. It is explicit, and it is safer than using root account, that’s why ubuntu never prompted root password during installation.
However for some reasons, some people would prefer a full root shell instead of using “sudo” command. And here is how to obtain root shell access in Ubuntu GNU/Linux.
From Desktop, launch the “Terminal” application, accesible through clicking Applications->Accesories->Terminal.
Execute this command,
Enter your user password, and then you’ll get the root shell “#”.
Same as method 1 but execute this command,
Enter your user password, and then you’ll get the root shell “#”.
So there you go, that’s how to get root shell access within your Ubuntu GNU/Linux. But as for me, I think I can settle with the sudo command, as I haven’t found a situation where I need to use the root shell explicitly.
Good luck !
I’ve found a nice well-written guide that may be useful for those who wants to create Debian *.deb package. Though compiling applications/software/libraries right from sources are desireable for some people, there’s still lots of others who prefer to install stuffs software packages for conveniency.
There’s many reasons for you to create *.deb packages, one of it if you are (or want to be) a maintainer for a Debian-based project, or merely maintaining a unofficial packages for Debian-based system.
The guide would be useful if you are a software developer or in charge of distributing softwares in pre-package form to various GNU/Linux distribution. Creating a prepackage *.deb files will help people install your software without the need of developments tools and save compiling time, this is important since there are people who like to manage installations using software management tools such as synaptic and aptitiude.
Though most people would prefer to distribute binary only *.deb package, the practice of distributing pre-packaged source codes in *.deb format is not uncommon in Debian-based distro scene.
Here’s the link to the guide that I’m talking about :
Other Links :
Seems that Mandriva Linux users doesn’t need to spend hours of unproductive work trying to figure how to work things out for their Mandriva Linux system.
The fine folks at Linux Center of University of Latvia have started an Unofficial Mandriva Linux Starter guide in spirit to help fellow Mandriva Linux users across the world. The guide itself is organised in a wiki, and everyone else are encouraged to contribute.
The website contains many useful links and guides that could be helpful for new Mandriva Linux users. Among the guides and tips included :
The same folks that brought you this wiki is currently also working to release Unofficial Gentoo Linux Wiki.
Hope that these links will be helpful to you !!
If you are a Debian-based GNU/Linux user, then you’re probably familiar with synaptic and apt-get to install application from software repositories. This post focussed on how to use apt-get/synaptic behind proxy server/firewall which under normal circumstances, you’re unable to use apt-get.
Open up your Synaptic package manager (usually as root), go to Settings-> Preference -> Network. Enter your proxy server details like : username:password@proxyserver.net, and put the proxy server port (usually 8080).
Edit your /etc/bash.bashrc file as root.
Put these line at the end of your /etc/bash.bashrc file :
export http_proxy=http://username:password@proxyserver.net:port/ export ftp_proxy=http://username:password@proxyserver.netport/
You can omit the username:password, if your proxy server has no password. That’s all for today! Happy apt-get-ing!
Mandriva Linux Community has released e-magazine dedicated to Mandriva Linux latest developments news (formerly known as Mandrake Linux). The publication of the magazine marks the resurrection of the Cooker Weekly News, which was discontinued a little while ago. The community driven effort hasn’t decided on scheduled release yet, as the editor wrote “If the project succeeds and catches attention, a new issue will be released as soon as we feel that there is enough content for it”. He also states that motivations should be the prior motor for new issues, instead of deadlines.
Stuffs included in Mandriva Inside first edition includes :
For the uninitiated, Cooker is the codename for unstable/experimental branch of Mandriva Linux that is currently in development. You can download Mandriva Inside from : http://www1.mandrivalinux.com/e-mag/e-mag-1-20060602.pdf