Can not su to root

  • Document ID:7015587
  • Creation Date:26-Aug-2014
  • Modified Date:26-Aug-2014
    • Micro Focus Products:
      eDirectory
      iManager
      Open Enterprise Server
    • SUSE Products:
      SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Environment

NetIQ eDirectory
Novell Open Enterprise Server 11 (OES 11) Linux Support Pack 2
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 2 (SLES 11 SP2)

Situation

Can not su to root
"su" and "su -" switches to novlxregd user or another user.

Resolution

Check in both eDirectory and the /etc/passwd for the uid of the user returned after "su" and running the "whoami" command.

In this example the user is novlxregd

In iManager modify the novlxregd user | Linux Profile tab | User Id: 
The User Id should be 81 by default.

Check the /etc/passwd.  The uid and/or gid might have been changed to 0.  
The line should look like as follows:
novlxregd:x:81:81:novlxtier :/var/opt/novell/xtier/xregd:/bin/false

Cause

Another user, novlxregd for example, has a uid of 0.  In eDirectory the attribute is uidNumber or in the Linux Profile tab is displayed as User Id: