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Hi!
I'm missing a function where i can easily perform an action with root privileges. E.g. I'm browsing through the filesystem with dolpin or konqueror and try to edit/delete/copy/... a file, where I need root privileges for. But since I'm logged in as user, I have to start a new application instance as root or use konsole and sudo.
I would like to see a function to switch quickly to something like a "root mode" (and back to "user mode").
This could be done with a toolbar button "root mode". When clicked, it asks for the root password and the next actions will be done as root. Another click on the toolbar button leaves the "root mode".

This could be implemented through polkit-qt. A action authentication abstracted API is also being proposed for GSOC, which will provide a cross platform method for KDE to authenticate actions as another user, which would include Administrators. This would reduce code duplication across the 3 platforms ( Lin, Mac, Win )

I don't know about you but if I right click on any file / folder in Dolphin I geta menu in which I have an option for root action.
I don't know if this is part of KDE4.2.1 or part of KDEmod or maybe it's policykit.
But I'm pretty sure that whatever it is most distros will implement it sooner or later.

Something like this already exists as service menu :
see http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.ph ... tent=48411

jMax

Idea tagged with Dolphin/Konqueror. If you think that it could be applied to others as well please let us know.

For newbies if nothing else, Konquor should have a vary _obvious_ root mode function so that when enabled the Konquor window is no different then it's functionality while logged in as root proper. Also, while enabled the window should turn a different color- perhaps flash red- so the user dose not forget they are accessing files as superuser.

Root Actions on kde look mentioned before is a great tool.
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.ph ... tent=48411

Maybe it should be a part of KDE installation by default ?

Root Actions will not be included with KDE by default because it is not cross platform, and there are better ways to control it.

As part of a GSOC project which is currently being integrated in KDELibs, an authorizations framework that can use backends has been created. It already has the appropriate backends for PolicyKit and Mac.

There are already plans to integrate this into KIO so applications would immediately request authorization when writing to protected files.

bcooksley: so it is possible to perform such action?


I mean to grant root privielges to perform coping from e.g home directory to /opt one as shown in the above picture.

This would be made possible ( and with minimum ability for privilege escalation ) if KIO had KAuth integration which allowed it to launch KIO slaves as root.

As KIO slaves communicate purely using sockets, I can't imagine it being overly difficult to implement.

You can open Konqueror in super user mode, but the option is hidden by default. Right-click on your app launcher, select Menu Editor, and you'll find the Super User File Manager under System > More Applications. Drag it into the main system menu and uncheck the "hidden entry" box. And there you have it.

It's planned but hasn't been implemented yet.

It should be added here that using a root file manager is not the most secure activity on the planet. You're really better off in a terminal.

It's KDE 4.5 now but I still can't see this feature. Is it hidden or whatever?

It has been implemented in PCMan File Manager (LXDE) quite well.

It has menu -

Tools -> Open Current Folder as Root.

I think this is very simple concept and can be implemented easily in Dolphin.