logging in as root at the console

[Bill Tangren]

I have RHEL ES 4.5 boxes, fully updated, and I have (as per instructions)
removed all entries in /etc/securetty except for one line, which says
"console". When I do a CTRL+ALT+1, then try to log in a root, it fails.
When I look at the logs, I see this in /var/log/secure:

FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM (null) FOR root, Authentication failure.

My questions are, what does "console" so in /etc/securetty?

And what needs to be in /etc/securetty to allow root to log in directly,
in this fashion (i.e. in an emergency)?



-- 
Bill Tangren
U.S. Naval Observatory

Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes