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zsh set as default shell for root

What does “trace trap” mean when reported by zsh?Making zsh default shell without root accessHow do you “disable” oh-my-zsh (and zsh) without uninstalling it?How could I reach root after switching from bash to zsh?Configure tmux to use zshHow to setup Mac OS X Terminal on bash and iTerm2 on zshzsh-newuser-install not workingzsh compinit: insecure directories, run compaudit for listWhy does a failed filename generation make zsh stop processing a script?Konsole does not run shell specified in /etc/passwd

6 Answers
6

active

oldest

votes

2

A trick is to set interactive root shells to use zsh and leave non-interactive shells to continue to use /bin/sh.

This can still lead to "expectation" problems as described in other responses but at least you will not blow up any non-interactive processes.

Add the following to the end of /root/.bashrc

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then

    exec /bin/zsh $*

fi 

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

add a comment | 

1

Just edit /etc/passwd using a text editor. There is one line for user root containing the current shell which you can change to zsh.

Don't log out to test the new settings but use a second terminal! Because in case you make a mistake you may not be able to login again to repair it.

share|improve this answer

edited Oct 23 '16 at 23:42

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

add a comment | 

1

In general it is a bad idea to change the root shell away from /bin/sh. It is better to add another account, e.g. zroot, that still has a UID of 0 but has zsh as a shell. However to attempt to answer the question, if you are logging in as root, then you don't need to use sudo. Just use

chsh -s /bin/zsh root

and give the root password in response to the request from chsh. Worth specifing the 'root' explicitly.

If you are logging in as 'fred', then use

sudo su root

and answer the password request with fred's password. This should give you a root shell. Proceed as if you had originally logged in as root.

Make sure the /bin/zsh is listed in /etc/shells.

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Why is it a bad idea to change root’s login shell to something other than /bin/sh?
  
  – k.stm
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:38
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @k.stm The system is set up knowing the shell for root, so instructions are written based on that knowledge. /bin/sh might be staticly linked to avoid library dependencies. The new shell might require some files which are not available in the early boot stages. Given the cost of another couple of hundred bytes of disk space to create an additional account, it seems worthwhile to avoid all the unknown problems.
  
  – icarus
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

You probably forgot to execute it has root. Execute the following command:

$ sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh asks for password which I enter correctly but still authentication failure.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  If you don't know your own password I can't help. If you know the root password try execute just su before this command.
  
  – a0f3dd13
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am already logged in to root, as my question explained.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:34
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  type "whoami" to see if you're really root ...
  
  – Michael D.
  Oct 24 '16 at 0:26
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

Editing passwd file with normal editor is not recommended
to do this use

vipw

and change shell to zsh,honestly i don't understand why you want to change
the root shell,root account must used only for administration thing,for normal work use unprivileged user.
After this try to log in on other tty whitout(is important) disconnect from current tty,if works you can see your new shell.
If you want to use immediately zsh,simply type zsh.
Conclusion

I want to use my new shell now = type zsh

I want to use my new shell + change = chsh -s or vipw

p.s= if your zsh is not installed on those path(/bin /sbin..)
and you have to do a single user login with root,will not work
because cannot find your shell,this can happen also on system with /usr
separated from root/mounted on other lvm or partition

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

add a comment | 

0

I did exactly that, I changed to Zsh, and .... logout, and of course now I lost access... there is any way to recover it ? there is some kind of default password that Zsh is taking instead of the root password?
Thanks in advance...

share

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

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2

A trick is to set interactive root shells to use zsh and leave non-interactive shells to continue to use /bin/sh.

This can still lead to "expectation" problems as described in other responses but at least you will not blow up any non-interactive processes.

Add the following to the end of /root/.bashrc

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then

    exec /bin/zsh $*

fi 

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

add a comment | 

2

A trick is to set interactive root shells to use zsh and leave non-interactive shells to continue to use /bin/sh.

This can still lead to "expectation" problems as described in other responses but at least you will not blow up any non-interactive processes.

Add the following to the end of /root/.bashrc

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then

    exec /bin/zsh $*

fi 

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

add a comment | 

A trick is to set interactive root shells to use zsh and leave non-interactive shells to continue to use /bin/sh.

This can still lead to "expectation" problems as described in other responses but at least you will not blow up any non-interactive processes.

Add the following to the end of /root/.bashrc

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then

    exec /bin/zsh $*

fi 

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then

    exec /bin/zsh $*

fi 

share|improve this answer

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

answered Jan 12 '18 at 23:17

user3718260user3718260

213

1

Just edit /etc/passwd using a text editor. There is one line for user root containing the current shell which you can change to zsh.

Don't log out to test the new settings but use a second terminal! Because in case you make a mistake you may not be able to login again to repair it.

share|improve this answer

edited Oct 23 '16 at 23:42

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

add a comment | 

1

Just edit /etc/passwd using a text editor. There is one line for user root containing the current shell which you can change to zsh.

Don't log out to test the new settings but use a second terminal! Because in case you make a mistake you may not be able to login again to repair it.

share|improve this answer

edited Oct 23 '16 at 23:42

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

add a comment | 

Just edit /etc/passwd using a text editor. There is one line for user root containing the current shell which you can change to zsh.

Don't log out to test the new settings but use a second terminal! Because in case you make a mistake you may not be able to login again to repair it.

share|improve this answer

edited Oct 23 '16 at 23:42

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

share|improve this answer

edited Oct 23 '16 at 23:42

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:36

rudimeierrudimeier

5,8421933

1

In general it is a bad idea to change the root shell away from /bin/sh. It is better to add another account, e.g. zroot, that still has a UID of 0 but has zsh as a shell. However to attempt to answer the question, if you are logging in as root, then you don't need to use sudo. Just use

chsh -s /bin/zsh root

and give the root password in response to the request from chsh. Worth specifing the 'root' explicitly.

If you are logging in as 'fred', then use

sudo su root

and answer the password request with fred's password. This should give you a root shell. Proceed as if you had originally logged in as root.

Make sure the /bin/zsh is listed in /etc/shells.

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Why is it a bad idea to change root’s login shell to something other than /bin/sh?
  
  – k.stm
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:38
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @k.stm The system is set up knowing the shell for root, so instructions are written based on that knowledge. /bin/sh might be staticly linked to avoid library dependencies. The new shell might require some files which are not available in the early boot stages. Given the cost of another couple of hundred bytes of disk space to create an additional account, it seems worthwhile to avoid all the unknown problems.
  
  – icarus
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

In general it is a bad idea to change the root shell away from /bin/sh. It is better to add another account, e.g. zroot, that still has a UID of 0 but has zsh as a shell. However to attempt to answer the question, if you are logging in as root, then you don't need to use sudo. Just use

chsh -s /bin/zsh root

and give the root password in response to the request from chsh. Worth specifing the 'root' explicitly.

If you are logging in as 'fred', then use

sudo su root

and answer the password request with fred's password. This should give you a root shell. Proceed as if you had originally logged in as root.

Make sure the /bin/zsh is listed in /etc/shells.

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Why is it a bad idea to change root’s login shell to something other than /bin/sh?
  
  – k.stm
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:38
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @k.stm The system is set up knowing the shell for root, so instructions are written based on that knowledge. /bin/sh might be staticly linked to avoid library dependencies. The new shell might require some files which are not available in the early boot stages. Given the cost of another couple of hundred bytes of disk space to create an additional account, it seems worthwhile to avoid all the unknown problems.
  
  – icarus
  Nov 30 '16 at 21:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In general it is a bad idea to change the root shell away from /bin/sh. It is better to add another account, e.g. zroot, that still has a UID of 0 but has zsh as a shell. However to attempt to answer the question, if you are logging in as root, then you don't need to use sudo. Just use

chsh -s /bin/zsh root

and give the root password in response to the request from chsh. Worth specifing the 'root' explicitly.

If you are logging in as 'fred', then use

sudo su root

and answer the password request with fred's password. This should give you a root shell. Proceed as if you had originally logged in as root.

Make sure the /bin/zsh is listed in /etc/shells.

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

chsh -s /bin/zsh root

sudo su root

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

answered Oct 24 '16 at 1:45

icarusicarus

6,81611632

0

You probably forgot to execute it has root. Execute the following command:

$ sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh asks for password which I enter correctly but still authentication failure.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  If you don't know your own password I can't help. If you know the root password try execute just su before this command.
  
  – a0f3dd13
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am already logged in to root, as my question explained.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:34
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  type "whoami" to see if you're really root ...
  
  – Michael D.
  Oct 24 '16 at 0:26
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

You probably forgot to execute it has root. Execute the following command:

$ sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh asks for password which I enter correctly but still authentication failure.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:29
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  If you don't know your own password I can't help. If you know the root password try execute just su before this command.
  
  – a0f3dd13
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am already logged in to root, as my question explained.
  
  – user196091
  Oct 23 '16 at 23:34
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  type "whoami" to see if you're really root ...
  
  – Michael D.
  Oct 24 '16 at 0:26
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You probably forgot to execute it has root. Execute the following command:

$ sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

$ sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

answered Oct 23 '16 at 23:26

a0f3dd13a0f3dd13

663310

0

Editing passwd file with normal editor is not recommended
to do this use

vipw

and change shell to zsh,honestly i don't understand why you want to change
the root shell,root account must used only for administration thing,for normal work use unprivileged user.
After this try to log in on other tty whitout(is important) disconnect from current tty,if works you can see your new shell.
If you want to use immediately zsh,simply type zsh.
Conclusion

I want to use my new shell now = type zsh

I want to use my new shell + change = chsh -s or vipw

p.s= if your zsh is not installed on those path(/bin /sbin..)
and you have to do a single user login with root,will not work
because cannot find your shell,this can happen also on system with /usr
separated from root/mounted on other lvm or partition

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

add a comment | 

0

Editing passwd file with normal editor is not recommended
to do this use

vipw

and change shell to zsh,honestly i don't understand why you want to change
the root shell,root account must used only for administration thing,for normal work use unprivileged user.
After this try to log in on other tty whitout(is important) disconnect from current tty,if works you can see your new shell.
If you want to use immediately zsh,simply type zsh.
Conclusion

I want to use my new shell now = type zsh

I want to use my new shell + change = chsh -s or vipw

p.s= if your zsh is not installed on those path(/bin /sbin..)
and you have to do a single user login with root,will not work
because cannot find your shell,this can happen also on system with /usr
separated from root/mounted on other lvm or partition

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

add a comment | 

Editing passwd file with normal editor is not recommended
to do this use

vipw

and change shell to zsh,honestly i don't understand why you want to change
the root shell,root account must used only for administration thing,for normal work use unprivileged user.
After this try to log in on other tty whitout(is important) disconnect from current tty,if works you can see your new shell.
If you want to use immediately zsh,simply type zsh.
Conclusion

I want to use my new shell now = type zsh

I want to use my new shell + change = chsh -s or vipw

p.s= if your zsh is not installed on those path(/bin /sbin..)
and you have to do a single user login with root,will not work
because cannot find your shell,this can happen also on system with /usr
separated from root/mounted on other lvm or partition

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

vipw

I want to use my new shell now = type zsh

I want to use my new shell + change = chsh -s or vipw

share|improve this answer

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

answered Oct 24 '16 at 0:33

elbarnaelbarna

4,356124194

0

I did exactly that, I changed to Zsh, and .... logout, and of course now I lost access... there is any way to recover it ? there is some kind of default password that Zsh is taking instead of the root password?
Thanks in advance...

share

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

0

I did exactly that, I changed to Zsh, and .... logout, and of course now I lost access... there is any way to recover it ? there is some kind of default password that Zsh is taking instead of the root password?
Thanks in advance...

share

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

I did exactly that, I changed to Zsh, and .... logout, and of course now I lost access... there is any way to recover it ? there is some kind of default password that Zsh is taking instead of the root password?
Thanks in advance...

share

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1

New contributor

Muadiv is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 5 mins ago

MuadivMuadiv

1