OS 10.3 - root password

kjell1979 · kjell1979 #1 (**permalink**)

07-10-2008, 09:19 PM

Is it common to know your root password for OS X? I got a low end iBook off craigslist and was never given the root password. Is it common/vital to know your system's root password as it is in Unix/Linux? I'm actually wondering if the person I bought it from even knows it himself. How involved is it to reset it?

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #2 (**permalink**)

07-10-2008, 10:03 PM

The root user is disabled by default in OS X.

Smackintosh · Smackintosh #3 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 10:03 AM

to change or set the root password you can boot of the install cd and change it from there (from the utilities menu) or if there is no root password set yet you can go to /Applications/Utilities/Directory Uitlity and got to Directory servers tab. Click the lock on the bottom left to unlock. go to the edit menu in title bar and click it and choose enable root user. go to edit menu again and chose change root user password.

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #4 (**permalink**)

07-11-2008, 01:48 PM

there really isn't a reason to though. Simply log on as an administrative user and if you need root access (and I frequently use it) simply do a sudo su -

Dysfunction #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 6,511 Mac Specs: 2008 and 2011 15" mbps, late 11 iMac, iPhone 4s, and too many ipods and other stuff	07-10-2008, 10:03 PM The root user is disabled by default in OS X. mike This machine kills fascists Got # ? phear the command line!
	QUOTE Thanks

Dysfunction #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 6,511 Mac Specs: 2008 and 2011 15" mbps, late 11 iMac, iPhone 4s, and too many ipods and other stuff	07-11-2008, 01:48 PM there really isn't a reason to though. Simply log on as an administrative user and if you need root access (and I frequently use it) simply do a sudo su - mike This machine kills fascists Got # ? phear the command line!
	QUOTE Thanks

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OS 10.3 - root password

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kjell1979 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 08, 2008 Posts: 4	07-10-2008, 09:19 PM Is it common to know your root password for OS X? I got a low end iBook off craigslist and was never given the root password. Is it common/vital to know your system's root password as it is in Unix/Linux? I'm actually wondering if the person I bought it from even knows it himself. How involved is it to reset it?
	QUOTE Thanks

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