MX Linux Forum

I upgraded from Linux 21 to 23 last time. I noticed that where a root password was required, now the user's password is sufficient. Is this a conscious effort on the part of the development?

Nothing.

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

You can choose to do that afterward, in MX Tweak, Other tab, change password for administrative tasks.

Yes, for GUI-popup authentication window, the password to authenticate
can be changed with MX-Tweak to be either root's password or user-password.
In case user is not member of the sudo-group, the password would be either
from root-user or from another user (if setup) which is a sudo-member.
The authentication within cli/terminal with sudo is always with the user password of
the user owning the session.

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:20 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-21-wildflower-released/

THis has been the case since MX21.

asqwerth wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 9:29 am

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:20 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-21-wildflower-released/

THis has been the case since MX21.

I thought so, but I second guessed myself after reading the OP's question.

asqwerth wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 9:29 am

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:20 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-21-wildflower-released/

THis has been the case since MX21.

I didn't ask by chance, because many things on MX Linux 21 required the root password, but on MX 23 the difference was noticeable, that the password of the current user was already enough for the same tasks.

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:20 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

Thanks, that makes sense. What was the reason that sudo became the default for performing administrative tasks?

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 12:49 pm

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:20 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 7:00 amNothing.

With the introduction of MX 23 we decided to make sudo the default method for performing administrative tasks. However during installation a user can opt for the traditional method if he / she wishes.

Thanks, that makes sense. What was the reason that sudo became the default for performing administrative tasks?

You will have to wait for someone on the development team to answer that. I can't remember their reasoning nor could I find it in a search of the forums.

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 12:49 pm What was the reason that sudo became the default for performing administrative tasks?

Something like this.
Some consideration where made about whether two passwords
for the user and root are really needed.
And it was considerd have this optional.
* to allow not the give root a password at all, during the installation.
* to have this option to set a root-password not enabled by default.
So in order to prefer user-password instead was made the default,
but user can still enabled the two-password setup and have root's
password the default authentication method for polkit-(GUI)-authentication.
sudo (CLI)-authentication would not be affected and would require user-password,
and user may need to remember both root and user-password.

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 12:46 pm

asqwerth wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 9:29 am
https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-21-wildflower-released/

THis has been the case since MX21.

I didn't ask by chance, because many things on MX Linux 21 required the root password, but on MX 23 the difference was noticeable, that the password of the current user was already enough for the same tasks.

Was your MX21 a clean install, or an in-place upgrade from MX19? If the latter, then the user vs root password thing would not have affected you.

asqwerth wrote: Tue May 14, 2024 6:45 am

zoli62 wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 12:46 pm

asqwerth wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 9:29 am
https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-21-wildflower-released/

THis has been the case since MX21.

I didn't ask by chance, because many things on MX Linux 21 required the root password, but on MX 23 the difference was noticeable, that the password of the current user was already enough for the same tasks.

Was your MX21 a clean install, or an in-place upgrade from MX19? If the latter, then the user vs root password thing would not have affected you.

Coming from a Debian lineage, I've always preferred in-place upgrades.

Ah ha, that's why you didn't realize the default policy on using user and root pw had already changed in mx21.