10. Adding a User

GNU/Linux is a multi-user system which means each user can have his own preferences, files and so on. But unlike the system administrator called root, the users you add at this point are not authorized to change anything except their own files and their own configurations, protecting the system from unintentional or malicious changes which could have a serious impact on it.

You must create at least one regular user for yourself — this is the account which you should use for routine, day-to-day usage. Although it's very easy to log in as root to do anything and everything, it may also be very dangerous! A very simple mistake could render your system unusable. If you make a serious mistake as a regular user, the worst that can happen is that you'll lose some information, but you won't affect the entire system.

You are first asked for a real name. DrakX uses the first word you type in this field and copies it, all in lowercase, to the Login name field, which is the name this user must enter to log on to the system. Then enter a password, twice (for confirmation). From a security point of view, a non-privileged (regular) user's password isn't as crucial as the root password, but that's no reason to neglect it by making it blank or too simple: after all, your files could be the ones at risk.

Once you click on Accept user you can add other users. Add a user for each one of your friends, your father, your sister, etc. Click Next when you're finished adding users.

[Tip]Tip

Clicking the Advanced button allows you to change the default shell for that user (bash by default), and to manually choose the user and group IDs for that user.