Change root home directory

[Dewa Negara_4]

Hi All,

Pls help.

I have this line on my /etc/passwd :
root:*:0:3::/:/sbin/sh

How can I change the root home directory "/" to "/root" using command line without editing /etc/passwd using vi editor or vipw?

Pls help. High core will be given.

Thanks and Best Regards,
Negara

[Con O'Kelly · Accepted solution]

Hi

Do the following:

# mkdir /root
# chmod 700 /root
Edit /etc/passwd file and change / to /root (use vipw command to edit /etc/passwd)
# vipw
# mv /.profile /root/.profile

Move any other files that belong in root's home directory to new home directory.

If trusted system run:
# pwconv

I'd also advise keeping an extra session logged into root just to ensure there is no problems.

Cheers
Con

[Mei Jiao]

You can use SAM to do the above, if you don't want to manually edit /etc/passwd file.

SAM
--> Accounts for Users and Groups
--> Users
--> Highlight root
--> Action menu
--> Modify
--> Make changes on 'Home Directory' to /root
--> OK

[Sanjay Kumar Suri]

Just check if usermod command helps:

usemod -d /root root

Ensure that /etc/securetty has entry console, so that in case of any issue you can login using console.

sks

[Michael Tully]

You can't do it without actually editing the /etc/passwd as part of the process. (vipw is necessary as it locks the file) I would suggest strongly against using 'awk' or 'sed'.
The rest of the process has been identified by Con.

[Dewa Negara_4]

Hi All,

Thanks for all comments. I decided to use vipw to edit /etc/passwd.

Thanks again.

Best Regards,
Negara