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10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
Top tip: If you think you need root access, you've been misinformed.
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
Enabling root and then logging in as the root user makes it a bit easier to change the "short user name" in 10.5 rather than messing around in the terminal - see for example http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428
I don't know if that is still the recommended way of doing it in 10.6
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
It wasn't the recommended way to do it in Mac OS X 10.5. The recommended way was to simply create a new user with the right short name and copy everything across from the old home directory to the new one.
Changing short name (Account name:) in SL
The way I'd recommend for Snow Leopard is the go to System Prefs > Accounts, right-click on the user account to change, and select Advanced Options.... Change the Account name: and reboot. I think that's all there is to it, though if you also want to change the Home directory name you have to change the Home directory: listing in the Advanced Options page, and the folder name in /Users.
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
"It wasn't the recommended way to do it in Mac OS X 10.5. The recommended way was to simply create a new user with the right short name and copy everything across from the old home directory to the new one."
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
Does single user mode work without enabling root? It was always my understanding that it would not. There are times when being able to boot into single user mode is not only helpful but required.
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
single user mode worked fine in Leopard without enabling root, and I don't see why they would change that in SL.
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
One of my reasons for enabling root is to allow my father, who lives out-of-state and has difficulty with complicated computer tasks, an easy method to back up his home folder. After logging out of his normal user, he logs in as root where he has a "burn folder" on the root desktop that contains an alias to his home folder. He just right clicks and chooses the "burn" item to commit his entire home folder to DVD-R that he can file away in his safe deposit box. (Yes, he also has an external Time Machine disk, but that is no substitute for cheap, easily managed, self-contained backups to keep off-site.)
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
not to be a pain, but you could accomplish that just as easily with rsync (and with a skillful application of launchd, your father wouldn't even need to log in and burn - that could be done automatically). I don't really have a position on the whole root-user/no-root-user debate, but as a rule I don't like enabling things that don't need to be enabled.
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
At risk of drifting too far off topic, I'll follow up simply to further illustrate one convenience of an enabled root:
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
It's clear you think this is simpler, and it's clear it's a system that works for you, so fine. Would I recommend it to someone else? Doubtful. For one, I'm picturing your dad's safe deposit box filling up with dozens (or hundreds) of old CDs that will never be looked at again...
10.6: Enable root user on Snow Leopard
Top tip: if somebody says sudo makes things more secure he doesn't know what he's talking about! |
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