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Falleron

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 22, 2001
1,609
0
UK
I want to be able to use the Apple + S key combination at startup to boot straight into unix. However, I get to unix + then dont seem to be able to log into my account! Any ideas? I just get a message login incorrect. It works from the OSX user panel fine, but I want to be able to go directly into unix.
 
Hmmmm...

I just tried it and it automatically logged me in as root...not sure if that's good.

If that's what it's supposed to do, then just make sure your root account is enabled.
 
How do you make the root account enabled? Is there anything wrong with logging in this way?
 
Usually you go through the Terminal and type:
sudo passwd root

It will prompt you for the passwd...

The reason I say that it's not good that it automatically logs in as root is that since the root user has complete control over the system, it's kind of unsafe that anyone can simply reboot your machine and get to console mode having complete control of your system.
 
I have done the root password. However, when I boot up using Apple + S, I still cant get access to my computer! What should I be logging in as? Normal user? Is there a special login name for the root?

Thanks
 
What dialog do you get when you boot into console mode?

On my machine I simply have the "localhost%" prompt, meaning I'm already logged in.

If you get that prompt type "whoami" to see who you're logged in as.
 
I get the same: localhost%

I cant browse any directories though like I am used to though (using cd "name of directory").
 
I'm able to navigate through directories using cd with no problem...
Only weird thing is that everything seemed to be read-only...I wasn't able to do mkdir or even pico to create a file...anyone else know more about console?
 
I have now managed to get to the root + be able to run programs. However, I have done this by creating a new user + gone in via the main OSX login screen.

A question, if you start a program in unix (SETI) how can you carry on using the terminal? I want to run 2 instances of it? When I start SETI off, I cant carry on using the commands. Dont know if that makes any sense to you?
 
RE: Read Only (Message on my system to enable write etc) I have not tried it because I really dont know anything about unix

Type:

/sbin/fsck - y
/sbin/mount -uw /
 
apple s!

hey, thx guys i never knew about the apple s key... i always have entered unix by going to the terminal and goin "sudo shutdown now" which usually runs the shell slower for sum reason... probably memory buildup? anyways...

wow, thx again

-firewire
 
In the unix world there's something called single user mode which is also referred to as runlevel one which is mainly used for system maintenence being that it has no networking or ability for any users besides root to login, in short that's what it sounds like the command+S combo drops you in. I usually get to a text login by booting normally then as username typing <console and it brings you to a console which you can login at.
That's my take on the situation.
Also to be able to work in the terminal with something like seti running, you can put a & after the command to put it in the background.
 
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