How to Enable SSH root login on CentOS Stream 9 System

After fresh system installation the root login on the CentOS Stream 9 is disabled by default. When attempt to login as root user to CentOS Stream 9 the access will be denied (access denied).

 

login as: root root@192.168.1.151's password: Access denied root@192.168.1.151's password:

 

This article describes How to Enable SSH root login on CentOS Stream 9 System.

 

[root@LinuxCNF ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release CentOS Stream release 9 [root@LinuxCNF ~]#

To enable remote SSH login for a root user on CentOS Steam 9, need to configure SSH server. Follow the below steps to allow remote login for root user. But this is not recommended on/for production server.

 

Step 1: Configure SSH Server: Run the following command to edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change the following line from PermitRootLogin prohibit-password to PermitRootLogin yes

 

[root@LinuxCNF ~]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config ………………………. PermitRootLogin yes ………………………. [root@LinuxCNF ~]#

 

Step 2: Restart SSH Service: Once changes have made, run the following command to restart SSH service:

 

[root@LinuxCNF ~]# systemctl restart sshd [root@LinuxCNF ~]#

 

Step 3. Validate Login Status: Now try to login with root user from remote machine/client:

 

login as: root root@192.168.1.151's password: Last failed login: Sat Jan  1 18:01:21 IST 2022 from 192.168.1.102 on ssh:notty There were 2 failed login attempts since the last successful login. Last login: Sat Jan  1 17:55:32 2022 from 192.168.1.102 [root@LinuxCNF ~]#

 

Done!!! After the changes now login successful with 2 failed login attempts.