Hi,
I just got my new power book.
The UI on this thing strange to me;
I'm used to dealing with Linux and Windows.

I'm running OS X but I'm not sure which version.

So far I've been able to get a shell prompt.
uname -a gives me this:

Computer.local 7.4.1 Darwin Kernel Version 7.4.1: Wed May 12 18:54:39
PDT 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.6.11.obj~5/RELEASE_PPC Power Macintosh
powerpc


Next I was able to install emacs which is very
useful for editing and file system navigation.

Then I was able to install mozilla (which has me
hooked with its tabbed browsing; so long safari).

Now I'm working on installing Oracle.

I'm stuck; how do I 'su - root' on my new mac?

When I unpacked my new mac it walked me through a
simple installation process but it never asked me
to establish a root password (like Linux does).

Currently, when I try to 'su - root' it does not like
my password or any others I can think of.

How do I set the root password on this thing?

-moi

In article <692feddd.0408191900.2be708e3@posting.google.com >,
ir4u4******.com (Equis Uno) wrote:

> Hi,
> I just got my new power book.
> The UI on this thing strange to me;
> I'm used to dealing with Linux and Windows.
>
> I'm running OS X but I'm not sure which version.
>
> So far I've been able to get a shell prompt.
> uname -a gives me this:
>
> Computer.local 7.4.1 Darwin Kernel Version 7.4.1: Wed May 12 18:54:39
> PDT 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.6.11.obj~5/RELEASE_PPC Power Macintosh
> powerpc
>
>
> Next I was able to install emacs which is very
> useful for editing and file system navigation.
>
> Then I was able to install mozilla (which has me
> hooked with its tabbed browsing; so long safari).
>
> Now I'm working on installing Oracle.
>
> I'm stuck; how do I 'su - root' on my new mac?
>
> When I unpacked my new mac it walked me through a
> simple installation process but it never asked me
> to establish a root password (like Linux does).
>
> Currently, when I try to 'su - root' it does not like
> my password or any others I can think of.
>
> How do I set the root password on this thing?
>
> -moi

Suggestion:

Start by using OS X with its graphical user interface directly. OS X is
designed to facilitate all sorts of things including installation of new
programs without resort to Unix command line. Try it out. Use the Help
file. Get a book about OS X. (IMO, OS X the Missing Manual by David
Pogue is excellent)

After you have developed some familiarity with working with the OS X
GUI, then start playing with Terminal.

Bill

--
To send e-mail, change <invalid> to <earthlink>

Equis Uno wrote:
> Hi,
> I just got my new power book.
> The UI on this thing strange to me;
> I'm used to dealing with Linux and Windows.
>
> I'm running OS X but I'm not sure which version.

go to the blue apple menu(upper left corner)
select 'About the Mac' - this will open a dialog, displaying the current
version, also it gives you access to:
- software updates - probably you need to run this
- System profiler ('more info...') which gives you a detailed hardware
listing.

> So far I've been able to get a shell prompt.
> uname -a gives me this:
>
> Computer.local 7.4.1 Darwin Kernel Version 7.4.1: Wed May 12 18:54:39
> PDT 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.6.11.obj~5/RELEASE_PPC Power Macintosh
> powerpc
>
>
> Next I was able to install emacs which is very
> useful for editing and file system navigation.
>
> Then I was able to install mozilla (which has me
> hooked with its tabbed browsing; so long safari).

Safari supports tabbed browsing, preferences, tabs options.
Safari is faster.
it is cleaner.
it is more likely to work on more sites
it is Konfabulator at its core

> Now I'm working on installing Oracle.

there should be a GUI installer.
If there is - it will require one of 2 things from you.
1 - drag the oracle folder to your applications directory
or
2 - click a few continue buttons

FAR FAR simpler than any command line

> I'm stuck; how do I 'su - root' on my new mac?
>
> When I unpacked my new mac it walked me through a
> simple installation process but it never asked me
> to establish a root password (like Linux does).
>

Yes that is correct - Root is NOT enabled by default on OSX

> Currently, when I try to 'su - root' it does not like
> my password or any others I can think of.
>
> How do I set the root password on this thing?
>
> -moi

there is likely NO reason to have a functional root user
I support about 40 Macs most running OSX - there is no reason I have
come across to enable Root.

However - to authenticate to allow SU powers temporarily -
use:
sudo


Also - I second the other responders suggestion -
there is little reason to use command line in OSX

yes you CAN, but... why?
nearly everything you want to do in command can be done in GUI