/root file system full
Ron Joordens
ron.joordens at indec.com.au
Mon Mar 8 13:34:25 PST 2004
Yes, Bob you are right.
The real problem was running KDE while logged in as root, not installing
ports. I deleted all the files that KDE placed in / and now everything is
fine.
Once again, thanks
Ron
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Johnson [SMTP:bob89 at bobj.org]
> Sent: Saturday, 6 March 2004 3:24 PM
> To: Ron Joordens
> Subject: Re: /root file system full
>
> On Wednesday 03 March 2004 11:55 pm, you wrote:
> > Bob,
> >
> > Thanks for taking the time to answer my query.
> >
> > My filesystem setup is the default one as suggested during the
> > installation. IE. 128mb for /root, 512mb for /swap, 256mb for /var,
> > 256mb for /tmp and the rest of the 6gb partition (slice) for /usr.
> >
>
> A detail: / and /root are not the same thing. The "root" partition
> is /, while /root is a directory named root in that partition.
>
> > I currently think as a result of some of the answers I have received,
> > that the problem is that I have been logging in as root to install
> > ports etc, when I should have been logging in as a user and doing an
> > su to root to install.
>
> I don't believe this is your problem. It is a good security precaution,
> but AFAIK, it won't affect where files end up when you install ports.
> Some of the security issues are: doing routine operations as root
> creates the risk that a minor typing error will do major damage that an
> unprivileged user wouldn't be able to do; if an attacker manages to
> steal your password, hijack a remote login session, or whatever, they
> still won't have root access (make them work for it); on
> multi-administrator systems it provides some degree of accountability;
> it lets you prohibit remote logins by root (the FreeBSD default, by the
> way); and more that don't come to mind at the moment.
>
> > Also running KDE etc while logged in as root
> > may have written KDE files to me / directory. I know, silly boy, but
> > to a beginner when the handbook says that ports can only be installed
> > while logged in as root then I log in as root. The subtle difference
> > between the two is nowhere explained. At least I haven't seen it.
>
> This part is accurate. Logging in to KDE as root will add some cruft to
> your / partition. And KDE always writes stuff into /var/tmp (or /tmp
> in older versions), regardless of which user invokes it.
>
> >
> > I shall certainly take note of your advice and have a look at
> > deleting any temp and uneccessary files, creating symlinks and
> > making the filesystems larger when I reinstall, as I inevitably will.
> > Probably sooner rather than later.
> >
> > The whole point to this installation was to evaluate and learn Linux
> > and BSD OSes. I have started with FreeBSD (in at the deep end -:) and
> > will soon try out some of the Linuxes such as Redhat, Slackware,
> > Mandrake and Gentoo. I will then choose a couple I like and reinstall
> > in a more permanent manner. Thus I will have more space to play with
> > later.
> >
> > So far I really like FreeBSD and plan to stick with it. I'll upgrade
> > to 5.2 next install though.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> >
> > Ron
>
> Good luck.
>
> - Bob
More information about the freebsd-questions
mailing list