# Docker image root access

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/docker-image-root-access/112515>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [December 19, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/docker-image-root-access/112515 "2017-12-19T22:26:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![StianOvrevage](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/stianovrevage/32/10873_2.png) [@StianOvrevage](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/StianOvrevage)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/docker-image-root-access/112515/1 "2017-12-19T22:26:03Z")

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How can I log in to the official docker image as root?

For example, using kubectl on Kubernetes to start a session within a container gives an unprivileged user shell. I have not found any way to start a root shell, or any mention of what the root password is, not in the Dockerfiles, not anywhere.

Having the ability to enter a container, install for example "iotop" to debug issues is an absolute necessity.

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**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/docker-image-root-access/112515/2 "2017-12-19T22:39:55Z")

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You mean like `docker exec -it CONTAINER bash`?

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/docker-image-root-access/112515/3 "2018-01-16T22:40:07Z")

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