Lost SSH Root Access? Let me help you! - maemo.org

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	F2thaK	2011-11-03 , 12:42
	Posts: 4,365 \| Thanked: 2,467 times \| Joined on Jan 2010 @ Australia Mate	#1

Lost SSH Root Access? Let me help you!

I spent a while figuring this problem out.
I access my N9 via SSH through Wifi using WinSCP on my PC. I like to modify my device(s) so I do it as root.
Recently there was an update to SSH on N9 which disables root access through SSH. Problem is, you need to be root to enable it. If youre like me and have come across this problem, let me help you. Then PR1.1 has disabled root access in another config file.

Pre PR1.1

1. open xterm
2. devel-su [enter] then your root password [enter]
3. nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

then use the arrowkeys on the virtualkeyboard to navigate the file to "Authentication" section and change 'permitRootLogin' to yes

Code:

# Authentication:
PermitRootLogin yes

once done, ctrl+o then enter saves the file
ctrl+x closes Nano

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post PR1.1, to enable remote root login again (or rather make it controllable via
/etc/ssh/sshd_config like before):

Code:

echo -e 'mkdir -m 0755 -p /var/run/sshd\nexec /usr/sbin/sshd $SSHD_OPTS' >> /etc/default/ssh
pkill -9 /usr/sbin/sshd

and reboot.

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Last edited by F2thaK; 2011-11-15 at 13:15.

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	HtheB	2011-11-03 , 13:35
	Moderator \| Posts: 3,718 \| Thanked: 7,419 times \| Joined on Dec 2009 @ Bize Her Yer Trabzon	#2

Did you try out the default password "rootme" (without quotes ofcourse)

Do you have the Terminal app on your N9?

if so:
try:
devel-su
rootme

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	F2thaK	2011-11-03 , 13:43
	Posts: 4,365 \| Thanked: 2,467 times \| Joined on Jan 2010 @ Australia Mate	#3

I reset the root password. I know what it is/was/should be, but it doesnt work! Had the password saved in WinSCP, it worked, rebooted phone and straight away tried logging in again, no longer works!

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uber	2011-11-03 , 16:14
Posts: 31 \| Thanked: 16 times \| Joined on Mar 2010	#4

Originally Posted by F2thaK

I reset the root password. I know what it is/was/should be, but it doesnt work! Had the password saved in WinSCP, it worked, rebooted phone and straight away tried logging in again, no longer works!

Did you update SSH? The new one disables root logins. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change "PermitRootLogin no" to "PermitRootLogin yes".

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shmerl	2011-11-03 , 17:09
Posts: 1,298 \| Thanked: 2,277 times \| Joined on May 2011	#5

Better also don't do that. Disabling root ssh access is a good feature. Just enable ssh access for the "user" user, and then escalate your privileges with devel-su.

In terminal:

Code:

devel-su
passwd user

Set your password for "user". Then for remote ssh access:

Code:

ssh user@<your_ip>
devel-su

And that's it. Also probably worth while to change root's password as well.

Last edited by shmerl; 2011-11-03 at 17:16.

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	F2thaK	2011-11-03 , 23:25
	Posts: 4,365 \| Thanked: 2,467 times \| Joined on Jan 2010 @ Australia Mate	#6

Originally Posted by uber

Did you update SSH? The new one disables root logins. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change "PermitRootLogin no" to "PermitRootLogin yes".

yes, I did update! only problem is editing that file..

---

Originally Posted by shmerl

Better also don't do that. Disabling root ssh access is a good feature. Just enable ssh access for the "user" user, and then escalate your privileges with devel-su.

In terminal:
Code:
devel-su
passwd user
Set your password for "user". Then for remote ssh access:
Code:
ssh user@<your_ip>
devel-su
And that's it. Also probably worth while to change root's password as well.

I need root access to be able to modify files in root directory.

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shmerl	2011-11-04 , 01:56
Posts: 1,298 \| Thanked: 2,277 times \| Joined on May 2011	#7

To enable devel-su switch on developer mode in system Settings > Security. After that you'll be able to use devel-su in the terminal with root password.

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	F2thaK	2011-11-04 , 04:24
	Posts: 4,365 \| Thanked: 2,467 times \| Joined on Jan 2010 @ Australia Mate	#8

Originally Posted by uber

Did you update SSH? The new one disables root logins. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change "PermitRootLogin no" to "PermitRootLogin yes".

can someone please tell me how to make this change in xterm? I was going to do it with MC but I cannot install that as I need root privileges....!

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uber	2011-11-04 , 04:40
Posts: 31 \| Thanked: 16 times \| Joined on Mar 2010	#9

Originally Posted by F2thaK

can someone please tell me how to make this change in xterm? I was going to do it with MC but I cannot install that as I need root privileges....!

Following shmerl's advice is the better way to go. It will give you root access. However, if you must login directly as root, use vi to edit the file, but you'll need to be root first.

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	F2thaK	2011-11-04 , 04:45
	Posts: 4,365 \| Thanked: 2,467 times \| Joined on Jan 2010 @ Australia Mate	#10

ive enabled developer mode, set my own user and root passwords, now the ssh update has disabled root, how the hell am I meant to enable it? I need to be root to enable it, but I cant because Im not root, and I cant become root as its disabled?! can you see my predicament? this is a poor developer device, OMG!

any help is appreciated.

edit: I can login as user via SSH still, no probs.

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Last edited by F2thaK; 2011-11-04 at 04:48.