On Tue, Oct 23, 2001 at 11:32:32AM -0700, Justin Bengtson wrote: > >is there any way to remove all the user accounts (including root) and simply >run the system as a single user? can i do away with the whole login thing? > >i can understand clearly the need for different logins in a work situation. >what i don't understand is the need for at least two logins for my home >system. i am the user, administrator and ultimate arbitrator of what goes >on in my computer. why do i need all of these accounts? i really hate >having to type "su" followed by a password to perform what is, to me, a >basic action. security is not an issue to me. i have a decent firewall and >i back-up regularly. about the only thing someone could "steal" from my >computer is the 1200-odd mp3's i have... > >i think this is the basis for my whole outlook on linux. am i stuck using >M$ products and pining for my old DOS days? or is there a way to make linux >less of a pain in the ass? > >if it makes any difference, i use debian.
Under classic *NIX this isn't really possible; the multiple-users-with-various\ -privileges is at the core of *NIX security and resource management. Eliminating it would involve a reengineering from the ground up. You might want to explore Plan 9 (http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9dist), as the post-*NIX most ready for real use (they like to call it a "research" release). On a more practical level, you can give your regular login account universal sudo privileges and set it to not require a password; then all those "su + password" sessions would be reduced prepending your command with sudo. This may not be such a good idea, however. You've said you're not worried about security; this is open to debate, but it seems to me that you should be. A good firewall is a step in the right direction, but what is called for is defense in depth; firewalling, IDS, strong security on the local machine, etc. etc. As we move to a more information-based economy and society, the safety of our data - including our financial data - will depend more and more on the security of our information systems. M$ is discovering just how hard it is to secure a production system after the fact; one really needs to secure from the start. "Even paranoids have enemies" - Henry Kissinger -- "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.
