I have newly purchased a 770, and want to become root.

From inspecting the wikis here and at maemo.org, I think there are at least three techniques:

1) What seems to be the "original" method which involves using the flasher.

2) A newer method (that OS2006 makes possible) that avoids using the flasher. Essentially, using ssh.

3) An even newer method (I think). It appears to be even easier. Use App Manager to install "becomeroot" (also at maemo.org).

The "catch" with #3 is that I don't know what it does. I think it probably uses the rootly power of the OS2006 app manager installer to do some "little fix", such as maybe just editing /etc/sudoers, or maybe fixing the absent setuid for "su" (or maybe something else).

I am reluctant to just blindly use it without knowing at least what it purports to do.

Might anyone comment on using "becomeroot" to gain root access? Is it safe? What does it do?

I'm new to the 770 and Linux, although have been using Solaris on Sun hardware for several years.

Thank you for any comments.

Regards,

DG

I employ both ssh ("dropbear") and "becomeroot" with satisfaction and no problems to date. "Becomeroot" enables me to log into my osso xterm root by simply entering "sudo su" at the "$" prompt. I use "dropbear" to access my 770 root via my PC terminal, and for that I've needed to set up a password. There's much good guidance in this forum and the various maemo sites to guide you in these matters. Good luck.

Thank you, ascherjim, for your reply.

Would you please tell me how you got and installed dropbear? I've tried to follow the links (starting from maemo.org) to the maemo package, but the komputika.net site seems to have disappeared.

Did you just use the generic debian package (if so, which version: stable, test, or unstable)? Or perhaps the Maemo package at komputika.net was still up when you did your install?

Thank you.

DG

I recall that I downloaded my dropbear from the following site:

http://matt.ucc.asn.au/dropbear/dropbear.html.

I expect you've already been there. I think I downloaded the .deb. Sorry I can't be more sure of just what I did. Good luck.

Thank you, Jim.


Unfortunately, that link leads to a dead end.

I am not aware of any location to download the Maemo package. It seems that only the generic Debian package is available.


Also, to avoid highjacking my own thread, I also solicit any further comments on what "becomeroot" actually does.

Thank you.


Regards,

DG

I used the becomeroot option and it was very easy. Once installed I enter and xterm window type sudo su and I have root access. (Whoami command confirms I have root access)

It took me a while to realise I had to use sudo su (and not sudo -su or sudo su-)

I used this method to gain root access before correctly installing Hamachi and it's additional requirement of tuncfg

Hope information is helpful to those that find the other methods daunting and confusing.

I reccommend you use sudo su -
Otherwise you are not in root's environment. (that's a space and a dash after su)
verify with echo $PATH

So pleased to learn that it works well.

But... I'd sure like to know what it actually does.

Thank you.

Regards,

DG

Just use the flasher method and be done with it.
You'll know exactly what you did.

Thanks did not appreciate that as still quite new to Linux all round.

Sorry to be a pain, whilst learning a little all the time, so what difference does su - make when installing things that require root access?

Slightly worried that I can cause myself problems in the future if I do not understand the different uses for sudo su or sudo su -