Mac OS X 10.3 : How to enable root user & password to access the CUPS GUI web page

Steve Mushynsky steve at summerbeemeadow.com
Tue Jun 15 22:06:11 PDT 2004


When setting up printers using CUPS and GIMP, the web GUI interface for CUPS adminstrative tasks, etc cannot be accessed without a root user name and password.

Mac OS X 10.3 by default has the root user disabled and without assigned password. This is so the average user can't do damage to system files, etc if they sign onto the system as "root" in normal system usage.

In order to enable the root user and assign a password, do the following:

1. Open NetInfo Manager, located in Applications > Utilities.

2. From the pull-down menues, choose:

   Domain > Open.

   A window titled "local at localhost - /" will open.

3. With this window open, go to the drop down menues and choose:

   Security > Enable Root User

   You will be prompted to assign a root user password.
   Choose and enter a password for the root user.

4. The root user is now enabled with the password you assigned to it.

5. Go to the CUPS web GUI interface at http://127.0.0.1:631

6. Choose "Manage Printers" or other task requiring  that you enter a root user name and password.

7. You will be prompted to enter the root user name and password.

   Enter " root " (without the quote marks)

   Enter the password that you assigned to the root user as above.

   Click on the check box to remember these values for future use.


That's it - you now have access to the administrative functions at the CUPS GUI web page interface on your Mac OS 10.3 machine.

Keep in mind that you now have the root user enabled and anyone who knows the password could sign onto your machine as root and do some serious system damage. Be careful with this access.

Note also that the Mac OS "Help" function will guide you to using Net Info Manager, but the exact path to enable the root user is not accurately described there for system version 10.3

8.




More information about the cups mailing list