Use Max OS x-enable and use the "root" user in Mac OS X

2013-01-13 wcdj

Root users are not enabled in Mac OS X by default. Therefore, some operations are not permitted. You can find related activation methods in Apple support. After obtaining the root permission, you can use more functions, such as viewing the size of all files in the/directory:

About root users

The user named "root" is a special user in a Unix-style operating system. It has the privilege to read and write data to all regions of the file system. Root users should only be used for specific management or monitoring tasks. After the task is completed as a root user, you should log out of Mac OS X and log on again with a normal or administrator account. If root access is not frequently used, disable it.

The root user does not appear in the "user" or "Account" preference settings.

Important Notes

• Only the computer owner or specified administrator should have the Administrator account or root password.
• Any user using the Administrator account can become a root user or reset the root password.
• The root password should be hard to guess. It should contain both numbers and letters in the first eight characters.
• Root users can access files of other users.
• The root user can move or delete the required system files, or put the new files in a protected location to prevent other users from changing the files.

How to enable root users

OS X lion

1. Select from the Apple menuSystem preference settings....
2. Select users and groups from the display menu.
3. Click the lock icon and use the Administrator account for authentication.
4. Click "Logon Options ...".
5. Click "Edit..." or "add..." in the lower right corner.
6. Click "Open Directory utility.
7. Click the lock icon in the directory utility window.
8. Enter the Administrator account name and password, and then click "OK ".
9. Select enable root user from the edit menu.
10. Enter the root password you want in the "password" and "Verification" fields, and then click "OK ".

How to disable root users 

OS X lion

1. Select from the Apple menuSystem preference settings....
2. Select users and groups from the display menu.
3. Click the lock icon and use the Administrator account for authentication.
4. Click "Logon Options ...".
5. Click "Edit..." or "add..." in the lower right corner.
6. Click "Open Directory utility.
7. Click the lock icon in the directory utility window.
8. Enter the Administrator account name and password, and then click "OK ".
9. Select disable root user from the edit menu.