Ubuntu User Plivileges help.

[Cityscape]

Hi guys,

I have Ubuntu 9.04 setup in a VM. It works fine but I can't do lots of things because I don't have Admin privileges. Attached is a message that I get when trying to install VM addons.

Can someone tell me how to get full privileges of my system?
I need to know because i'll be making Ubuntu my main OS in a few weeks.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[BC_Programmer]

hmm, can't remember the exact command,

think you'd need to run as root.... I <think> the command is su root or sudo root <program name>...

[Rob Pomeroy]

You mopst emphatically do NOT want to give your normal user account "admin privileges".  Install software as the root user if necessary.  sudo is the best command for this job.  Alternatively, log into your desktop as root to install the software, then log out again.

[BC_Programmer]

hey, neat, I actually kinda know something about Linux.

 I'm as surprised as anyone.

[Cityscape]

You mopst emphatically do NOT want to give your normal user account "admin privileges".

Actually I did want to. Is there a reason not to?

I'm not installing via Terminal so I don't think I can type root or sudo...
So how do i log into the desktop as root?

[jerryheavyarms]

Using sudo is a means of protecting or securing your ubuntu station from config errors.
But I  believe this error you're encountering doesn't have anything to do with your Ubuntu installation on VM. I think it has something to do with your host OS. Are you admin on your host OS?

[BC_Programmer]

that VM additions program is running inside the emulated PC and this is subject to the permissions of the emulated PC...

[Cityscape]

It has nothing to do with the host.
It's Ubuntu I need privileges for.

[jerryheavyarms]

You can read here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

[Rob Pomeroy]

Actually I did want to. Is there a reason not to?

Let me rephrase: unless you want to undermine the security (including virus resistance) of your system and you know the full implications of doing this, you should not give your normal user full privileges.  There are a number of different groups you can add your user to, to increase the privileges of the user (wheel, root - the group, not the user, etc.) but it would be most straightforward for a user starting out to log on as root purely for the install and then log back out again.

[jerryheavyarms]

I'm not installing via Terminal so I don't think I can type root or sudo...
So how do i log into the desktop as root?

How are you installing this? If its through Synaptics, it will ask for your root password. The same with Debian package installer and Add/Remove from Applications menu..

[Cityscape]

How are you installing this?

By running the executable install file.

but it would be most straightforward for a user starting out to log on as root purely for the install and then log back out again.

Okay, so how would i log in as the root?

[Rob Pomeroy]

I can't tell whether your first screenshot is coming from the host or the guest.  I would think the host, because Linux would not refer to the superuser as "administrator" anyway.  Is your host logged in as an administrator?

As for the guest O/S, to log in as root, you would normally supply the username "root" and the password set for the root user.  If no password is yet set for root (common with Ubuntu installs) you can set it using sudo: sudo passwd -u root.

Additions tutorial here: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/virtualbox-guest-addons.html (Linux section is down the page).

[jerryheavyarms]

By running the executable install file.

Even using the executable file, it will still ask for your password.
If I were you (and I hope Rob is will agree with me ), just give your user administrator rights. Then have it in root group. Anyways, you could read the links that we provided for additional info..
goodluck,

[Rob Pomeroy]

If I were you (and I hope Rob is will agree with me ), just give your user administrator rights.

Which user?  Which rights?  Make the normal Linux user a member of the root group?  Not a good idea.

Still, if this is a disposible system that's going to be binned after a few weeks and not exposed to any internet threats, what the heck.  But it'd just be sloppy.