Problem with SU

[Robert DJ]

Hi,

I have a very strange problem on my HP Wkn 11.0.

I login through telnet to the hp box with my own id e.g- robert and type su root.

The error says : owner, group & file error.

I checked up the permissions and is set to 777, eventhen the problem exist.

Kindly let me know what can be done for this.

Thanx & Regards,
Roby

[John Palmer · Accepted solution]

Check permissions of the su command:

ll /usr/bin/su

Permissions should be -r-sr-xr-x

To reset, chmod 4555 /usr/bin/su

Regards,
John

[Tomek Gryszkiewicz]

Check the permissions for /usr/bin/su, should look like:
-r-sr-xr-x 1 root bin 28672 Oct 4 2002 /usr/bin/su
(the most important is setuid bit)

Then check /etc/passwd (if root exists etc).

Can you log as root without su?

-Tomek

[Robert DJ]

Hi Tomek / John,

I am unable to login with root.


I checked it but no effect.


Thanx & Regards

Roby

[Zigor Buruaga]

Hi,

If I understand correctly, you first log in with your user, let's say "robert", and then you "su" to root.
Could you please post the error of "su - root"? the error mentions any file?

Kind regards,
Zigor

[Tomek Gryszkiewicz]

So, check the /etc/passwd:
cat /etc/passwd|grep root

Then check root home directory, if it exists.
I understand you can login as any user exceptu root?
Do you have trusted system? If so, root account can be disabled when you are trying to login several times with a wrong password. In this case, login as root with console.

-Tomek

[Thierry Poels_1]

hi,

- do "pwck" or "grpck" report any irregularities?
- can you copy/paste the exact error message?
- what permission is set to 777?

regards,
Thierry.