Root access

Warning: The steps described on this page could lead to severe damage to your system and/or device. Proceed at your own peril. It is likely that any breakage would be fixed by reflashing your device: however this will lose any settings not backed up.

Having root access is an important step for users interested in modifying things "under the covers" of their tablets; without it, you wont have the necessary permissions to make those modifications. Unfortunately, root access is disabled by default on new tablets. Thankfully, the steps to enable root access are simple.

Contents

Why do I want root?

root access is not required to install additional applications through Application Manager, open X Terminal or use your tablet in day-to-day operation.

If you want to edit the underlying system configuration, install applications through the command line or other low-level tasks, you will require root access.

rootsh

Note: As rootsh is the simplest option, and does not require a desktop computer or running additional services, it is the recommended method for gaining root access.

rootsh is available in Extras, and can be installed from the Application manager if you have Extras enabled..

Then, from the shell, run sudo gainroot (or root for short). This will give you a root shell.

OpenSSH

  1. Enable Extras (if you haven't already).
  2. Install OpenSSH (client and server).
  3. SSH into your tablet as root
    • For local access, run ssh root@localhost
    • For remote access, run ssh root@tablet's ip address
  4. Use the root password that the OpenSSH package asked you to enter to log in (in ancient OS versions you had to use the factory default "rootme" password).

Securing root access

At this point you should have gained root access to your device, and be looking at the root prompt: 

#

However, if your Wi-Fi network is not password protected, so might anyone else near you who has Wi-Fi, SSH and a clue.

You still need to secure the root account ("rootme" is a terrible password).

Change root password

Note: The OpenSSH requires that the root password be set as part of its installation process, if you have installed OpenSSH you have already completed this step

To change root password (as root user): 

passwd

When asked, input your new password twice.

R&D Mode

Note: As R&D mode has other side effects beyond simply enabling root access (including several that may negatively impact battery life), it is not the recommended method for gaining root access. Use easyroot instead.

You can enable the Research & Development mode (R&D or RD mode, which enables you to execute sudo gainroot to get a root shell, simply follow the setup steps for flashing covered in Upgrading tablet OS, then execute 

sudo ./flasher-3.0 --enable-rd-mode -R

You are now in R&D mode, and the sudo gainroot script's check will be satisfied.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.maemo.org/Root_access"