A follow-up post on "Removing a GUI mistakenlyinstalled.."

[rodgoslin]

I recently submitted a post regarding booting Mageia into a GUI as root. Something generally regardewd as a nono. After a nunber of posts to this query, there seemed no solution to this seeming anomalour boot option. Except, not to use it! Still curious, on a Thinkpad loaded with Mageia from a number of years ago, I tried the same login sequence as root. it worked. I could login as root in a GUI. I had thought that the relative who had built the install, had performed some action that allowed such an effect. His last re-boot before sending me the machine had been to boot under root, so the next re-boot had been with the same user. Admittedly, it did require roots password, but it is generally acknowledged, that running root in a GUI is a nono. Some years ago, on this forum I was flamed for mentioning running konqueror as root to get around a problem with remote connection with SMB to install files and manage a Drobo unit, was only possible as root. I did, subsequently find a solution to this on a Ubuntu forum, and as a normal user I now have full access rights to such units mounted uning Ciffs.
But surely, if a graphical login as root is a bad thing, it should not be possible, as a matter of course.

[Germ]

Running as root is not inherently bad. Although there are a lot of bots scanning the internet for open SSH ports. If they can guess the root password then they have total control over your machine.

I login as root sometimes but always make sure I am not connected to the internet. Although, there is really nothing you can not do as a user with su - and sudo, some things are just easier when you login as root.

[Germ]

Here's a good read on the subject:
https://www.howtogeek.com/124950/htg-ex ... m-as-root/

[banjo]

I always do my sysadmin work logged in as root.

I never do general purpose work logged in as root.

To keep myself honest, I color the bash prompt red when logged in as root.

I never run a graphical desktop as root.

I do not use sudo. Why? I am old school, and giving any root privilege to anyone using their own credentials makes me nervous. If you don't know the root password, you have no business changing the system.

That said, this is a home system with 4 users, and I am the only one who even cares how it works. Tempest in a teapot.

Just MHO. This old dog doesn't like the new tricks.

Banjo
(_)=='=~