What is the root password of ubuntu-mate 16.04.2 LTE

Support & Help Requests Raspberry Pi
#1

Hi,

I am trying to boot ubuntu-mate 16.04.2LTE versionin raspberry pi 3.
I have downloaded the image from https://ubuntu-mate.org/raspberry-pi/ubuntu-mate-16.04.2-desktop-armhf-raspberry-pi.img.xz . But after booting the board i can login only as guest user where i cant do any devlopment activity. I am not able to install any packages because its ask for root password.

Can someone please help me to get the root password. I feel this flover is realy better then raspbian but because of limitation i am not able to utilize its functionality fully.

Samir

#2

When you first boot from the image, you should be asked questions about name and password. You log in with these, and if you need root privileges to run commands use sudo. the root password is not available, as you won’t be able to log in as root.
HTH

#3

You can set the root password (and allow root login) with:

$ sudo passwd root

By default, the root account password is locked in Ubuntu and sudo command is used when root priviledges are needed. IMHO this is a good approach since there really is no sane reason to log in as root on a desktop system.

Here’s a good explanation why Ubuntu uses sudo (and has disabled root logins) and a list of benefits and downsides of using sudo:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

1 Like
#4

It did not asked me to set up a password or user when installing the os to the Raspberry Pi now when I try to make a change it ask for the root password and none of the default passwords worked. I did the installation 3 timers to see if I missed the part were it asked for the password but I’m sure it did NOT asked me to set a user or password now I have to install software but im not able because it keeps asking for root password I don’t have.