Renaming root account

[Greg Barniskis]

Alec Berryman wrote:
...
> On our networks we have certainly changed the Windows Administrator
> account's name, but that's mostly because there's no good way to
> remotely log in as an unprivileged user and perform the equivalent of
> 'su -'. [1]
...
> 
> 
> [1] I'm no Windows guru - if there is a way I'd certainly like to know!

Alec, see the URL below re: the "runas" cmd line tool and the "Run 
as..." GUI widgetry (the link is probably wrapped and broken):
 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/advanced/help/default.asp?url=/windows2000/en/advanced/help/windows_security_runas.htm?id=767

Sorry to everyone else for bringing the site of the beast into this 
forum, but this is an important and not well-understood feature of 
modern Windows (and the question was raised).

I like to use runas best on the command line, which I find is most 
effective with a batch wrapper so I don't have to type in all the 
syntax. Never tried using it remotely, but I assume it would work. 
The only thing I don't understand is why MS doesn't trumpet this 
privilege differentiation feature during the OS installation (like 
FreeBSD and others do) so that people could be, like, clueful and 
stuff. I guess it'd lower their demand for paid tech support. ;-)

-- 
Greg Barniskis, Computer Systems Integrator
South Central Library System (SCLS)
Library Interchange Network (LINK)
<gregb at scls.lib.wi.us>, (608) 266-6348