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Why root Access?

Can someone tell me in some kind of priority why specifically you need root Access to UNIX. I am not a UNIX Administrator, but I am familiar with NT, WIN2K administrator roles. So I'm not a total idiot, just a partial one when it comes to UNIX. We have a Compaq Alpha running tru64 UNIX and our hosts say they need exclusive root access, which means our people don't have root access, they also want to take away our Oracle DBA priveleges. I hear a number of reasons from various people that we can't do this but nothing concrete.
What are the differences between root, sys, and system?

If the question requires more points please let me know that as well.

Regards

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

bira

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bira

The AIX manual references root user as follow:

root user.
----------
The person who has unrestricted ability to
access and modify any part of the
operating system, usually the user who
manages the system.

mrn060900

root = administrator in NT

root = god on a unix system, they can do, look at, change anything they want.

Mike

gosportlad

ASKER

Thanks, great help. Everything you have said, my hosts say they can provide roles for in UNIX. Sounds as though it's a control issue. They also claim that they cannot fully support the box if we have root privelges, although their track record indicates they aren't that good when it comes to providing fast and responsive support around issues on other boxes we have there.