New Debian 9. root disabled and user not in sudo! What the?!

[techay]

Debian 9.0.1.

Very strange issue and I have no idea why no-one else is experiencing this madness. So, I set up my root and user account during installation as per (I have umpteen *NIX systems here!) and went to do some command line stuff just to be greeted by 'not in sudoers file' ..thought fine, I'll just add myself to that.. tried su - nope! Apparently 'su: Authentication failure'. I can bloody well tell you that there's no issue with the password cause it's the damn same password as the user - I always keep the same during the install process!

So yeah, looks like the root account has been disabled. What is this madness? If you are going to disable the root account, at least add my user to the sudo group or I'm stuck like I am now basically locked out my system. I have an encrypted install so it's not easy just remounting the system and going in as root to change things. tbh, I don't have the time nor patience. I'm thus considering just re-installing Debian 9 and giving up in favour of LMDE which I've been using for years.

Anyway, apologies for the tone of this but seriously - what is this nonsense.

[arochester]

By default Debian does not use sudo. To become Root just input: su
It will ask for your Root password. You are then Root and can input commands.

You can add sudo if you want to. Look at e.g. https://linuxpanda.wordpress.com/2016/1 ... n-stretch/
Scroll down to Grant Sudo Access (Optional)

[techay]

Fair enough, but even su doesn't work as said. p.s. cheers for responding

[Lysander]

You seem perturbed. Arochester answered the point, but for a video walkthrough, use this which I refer to after a new install

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wklBR6zobs

EDIT: try this?

https://askubuntu.com/questions/509074/ ... -privilege

[Wheelerof4te]

It would seem Stretch had been released well before it's time. So many users are complaining, first live-images can't install, then freezes and problems with booting; now this. Maybe it's better for everyone to wait a month and install after a point release.

For your solution, next time try using different passwords. It is both safer and it probably won't conflict.

[techay]

Thanks, still I don't think you are seeing my point here

sudo IS infact installed by default - this is why I was going to add myself to the group. So that information was not correct (the tutorial was also incorrect because why install sudo when it IS already installed??)

$ su
Password:
su: Authentication failure

Hopefully this is much clearer. I 100% know that the password is correct, it's the same password I used to log my user in AND is the SAME password as root.

video tutorials do not address this issue. This is unique to 9.0.1. I have an 8.0 web server online I just put up 3 weeks ago!

[techay]

It would seem Stretch had been released well before it's time. So many users are complaining, first live-images can't install, then freezes and problems with booting; now this. Maybe it's better for everyone to wait a month and install after a point release.

For your solution, next time try using different passwords. It is both safer and it probably won't conflict.

Yes, was having all of those issues too. But this one takes the biscuit.

[Lysander]

This is unique to 9.0.1.

I don't think it is? If I Google your error I get loads of results.

In fact, there is a topic for it here on this very forum

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=67583

[techay]

This is unique to 9.0.1.

I don't think it is? If I Google your error I get loads of results.

In fact, there is a topic for it here on this very forum

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=67583

I'm banging my head against a brick wall here..

[Wheelerof4te]

Have you checked the wiki page?

https://wiki.debian.org/sudo

Could be something there that you overlooked.

[Lysander]

This is unique to 9.0.1.

I don't think it is? If I Google your error I get loads of results.

In fact, there is a topic for it here on this very forum

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=67583

I'm banging my head against a brick wall here..

I don't understand then. There appears to be a lot of evidence of this issue. I would recommend Googling around, reading up and trying things out. Also, this person seems to have experienced exactly the same issue as you.... several years ago. I would recommend looking at some of the information out there first.

[techay]

Okay.

I have reinstalled with the same info, i.e same passwords etc etc..

john@pc:~$ su
Password:
su: Authentication failure

Same damn issue. Logging in as regular user works, obviously locked out of making changes.

I'm going to install and use a different password for the user account as to what I will set the root account now.

So far, I'm not happy with this.

Will report back soon!

[techay]

My third attempt - also a disaster.

I set up different root password to the user password

$ su
Password:
su: Authentication failure

What the hell is wrong with this damn system.

p.s. I'm using Debian 9.0.1 / XFCE / AMD64

I even checked verified the iso, rewrote it with DD.

4th try, going to remove the root password as states if you dont enter a password then it will require the user to use sudo!
If this doesn't work - Debian will be getting shoved where the sun don't shine - so if I were a developer, I'd be running for the hills if this doesn't work!

[techay]

4th time lucky.....

The workaround to avoid this fiasco is to NOT enter a root password i.e. leave these fields empty!

After this it will make you set up a regular user. When the installation has finished and you log in, sudo will now work automatically without needing to add yourself to the sudoers group or anything..

$ sudo su
[sudo] password for simon:
root@mylaptop:/home/simon#


Debian devs, I hope you were reading this thread - you NEED to fix this crap it's unacceptable from an OS like Debian. People stand by Debian being of a bloody good quality and unless you want the reputation tarnished by crap like this you gotta not release till the OS is ready!

[kopper]

I don't want to give a stupid advise but... Are you sure you are using the same keyboard layout as the installer was using? I've had some issues in the past that for reason or another, my native (Finnish) keyboard is not properly used by the installer even though I've selected it for use. Might want to check on that, especially if you've already tried reinstall once.