Topic: Can't Telnet as ROOT

[Tim Jabaut]

I am not able to TELNET into my new e-Smith v5 box. I have been able to execute a chsh to allow a user to TELNET in no problem, and I can also login via SSH as ROOT, but I am unable to get plain TELNET access as ROOT.

I know that it seems trivial, but I would just like to know why I can not do this.

[sage]

RTFM

Its a security thing,  telnet sends passwords as cleartext so anyone can snoop your root password.

Sage

[Kees]

Try Putty!

[Micheal Kelly]

Ack!  Bad!  Bad!  Evil!  Nasty!

As someone else has already pointed out (and I'm going to repeat, so the message gets across), telnet is BAD.  Telnet sends *everything*, including those passwords you type, across the network in plaintext.  Which means anyone with a packet sniffer can *easily* grab your root password and compromise your security.

SSH on the other hand, encrypts traffic from client to server and vice versa.

[Scott Smith]

And just to make sure everyone understands, putting double locks on all the doors will keep most criminals from using your doors -- especially if the windows are wide open...

[Scott Smith]

... and if the double locks are of low quality, they may choose to use the doors anyway.