Introduction After installing the Centos operating system on CloudStack, you usually log in with the username centos. However, in some cases, root access may be required. This guide explains step-by-step how to log in to the system with the centos user, obtain root access, and optionally create a password for the root user.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in with the Centos User:

   • Connect to the Centos server you created in the CloudStack console using SSH or VNC.
   • Log in using the username centos and your password.

2. Root Access with the Sudo Command:

   • Run the following command in the terminal:
     Bash

     sudo -s
     

   • This command gives you root privileges. You can now run commands as the root user.

3. Create a Root Password (Optional):

   • Why Create a Root Password: For security reasons, it’s important to create a password for the root user. This prevents unauthorized access to the root account.
   • Create Password:
     Bash

     passwd
     

     This command will prompt you to enter a new password. Make sure you create a strong password.

4. Direct Login with the Root User (Optional):

   • SSH Configuration:
     • Open the SSH configuration file:
       Bash

       nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
       

     • Find the following line and change the value to yes:

       PermitRootLogin yes
       

     • Save the file by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y, and Enter.
     • Restart the SSH service:
       Bash

       systemctl restart sshd
       

   • You can now log in directly to the system using the root username and the new password you created.

Important Notes:

• Security: Be careful with root privileges. Incorrect commands can crash your system.
• Sudoers File: If you have multiple users on your system, you can edit the sudoers file to define which users can run which commands.
• SSH Key: We recommend using SSH keys for a more secure login.
• Strong Password: Create a strong and unique password for the root user.