RE: [cobalt-users] Can't su to root

["John P. Cuprisin" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: cobalt-users-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:cobalt-users-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Neil J. Kemp
>Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2000 1:53 PM
>To: cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Cc: cobalt@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [cobalt-users] Can't su to root
>
>
>I have no idea if it'll work, but it's worth a try. Telnet
>in AS the user
>that now owns /etc (and more importantly /etc/passwd)
>
>edit /etc/passwd (pico will do it) and find the user that owns
>/etc. You'll have a line like:
>
>username:x:112:23:Real
>Name:/home/sites/site13/users/username:/bin/bash
>
 Great Idea! I was doing it just as you suggested and as I saved the
file, I got an error. I did a quick look and the ownership had changed
to root. Several more files were magically changed to root. Actually
Cobalt support was on the line with my ISP (dedicated server) and the
cobalt tech was adding a new user with root privileges using (I think)
the same method you suggested and gave me my "su" back. I am still
cleaning up the mess but I am almost back to normal. The only thing
missing now is the virtual site list in the guy (I know, I know) but I
do like it for the convenient way it can generate and install an ssl
request.

Thanks a million, and Cobalt support was right there. Of course it was
totally my mistake and there would have been a charge to restore the
permissions and clean up my mess.

John
JCSolutions