Thread: SSH root acess denied - Ubuntu - Help

Hey all,

So I got my box setup finally, and then the system started slowing down extremely and was timing out alot, funny it never did when it was setup as a seedbox for me, but now I am getting access denied for root although the sudo user can login. I can su to root but can't login via putty, I am getting denied. I don't understand what is going on, I need some help here. I tried reading some articles via ubuntu forums, and allowed root as a user, and changed the password, still with no success. Can anyone help out?

edit: Just realized that when I log in as sudo user via putty, then start a putty window, and login as root, get denied, the sudo session time's out... still really confused...

Perhaps you disallow root on /etc/ssh/sshd_config file ? Could you pastebin it ?

Thank you for the response. Sure, added to pastebin. After I read your post I edited sshd, and added the AllowUsers root in addition to AllowUsers (sudouser), but that didn't work, so I removed it, then pasted it. Edited to show that atleast that much was attempted. I orginally had the line AllowUsers root, (sudouser), but that also didn't work. So how I am confused, it's more of a trial and error attempt for me. Appreciate the help! :D

duh! pastebin link http://pastebin.com/m3ca9a10e

In Ubuntu this is the default configuration/working by design. You should never log in as root. A good practice on any linux system. You should always log in as a normal user and then elevate your permissions as needed.

Log in as you and then su or sudo -s to become root once you are in.

If you still want to log directly into the system as root over SSH line 26 is a problem in your sshd config.

PermitRootLogin no needs to read PermitRootLogin yes

Then restart sshd.

I believe on Ubuntu systems you have to "enable" the root account by setting a password specifically for the root account.

sudo passwd root and type in a new password.

Q

qaw is absolutely correct. U need to edit this line in your sshd config file to allow root login. Change "PermitRootLogin no > PermitRootLogin yes" then restart ssh > " /etc/init.d/ssh restart or /etc/init.d/sshd restart".

Even if u set "AllowUsers" it will have no affect if the above line is set to no. Also, like qaw said u should never log in as root user. Just login with sudo user and switch to root if u need to. Also in your "AllowUsers" line u need to put it like this or it will also not take effect > "AllowUsers root miked". U have it set with two lines, just use 1 line there after u pernit root login.

If u got your server from OVH they usually give u root for Ubuntu so there's no need to enable the account, but if u didnt and depending what server provider u have, u may have to do what qaw said again, lol and enable root account. But u would of already done that if u got this far anyway.

Thanks guys. I guess setting up the server and reading so much about it got my mind all messed up yesterday. Got some sleep and it's much clearer now. Making sense. :D It is a OVH server.

Your welcome. I remember u posting saying u followed my tutorial yesterday. If this is the case then the part i have about "securing server & ssh" makes u disable ssh root login for security. If u followed that part then thats what happened to u. U disabled root login, but probably didnt know that. Anyway at least u know what to do to fix that now. Glad u got it resolved.

Originally Posted by MikeD

Your welcome. I remember u posting saying u followed my tutorial yesterday. If this is the case then the part i have about "securing server & ssh" makes u disable ssh root login for security. If u followed that part then thats what happened to u. U disabled root login, but probably didnt know that. Anyway at least u know what to do to fix that now. Glad u got it resolved.

Yeah ... I must have forgot to remember. I'm going back through it and understanding it better. My nickname is Ten Second Tom. :laugh: