Root Password

This is the most crucial decision point for the security of your GNU/Linux system: you have to enter the root password. Root is the system administrator and is the only user authorized to make updates, add users, change the overall system configuration, and so on. In short, root can do everything! That is why you must choose a password that is difficult to guess – DrakX will tell you if the password you chose is too easy. As you can see, you are not forced to enter a password, but we strongly advise you against this. GNU/Linux is just as prone to operator error as any other operating system. Since root can overcome all limitations and unintentionally erase all data on partitions by carelessly accessing the partitions themselves, it is important that it be difficult to become root.

The password should be a mixture of alphanumeric characters and at least 8 characters long. Never write down the root password –– it makes it far too easy to compromise a system.

One caveat –– do not make the password too long or complicated because you must be able to remember it!

The password will not be displayed on screen as you type it in. To reduce the chance of a blind typing error you will need to enter the password twice. If you do happen to make the same typing error twice, this “incorrect” password will be the one you will have use the first time you connect.

If you wish access to this computer to be controlled by an authentication server, click the Advanced button.

If your network uses either LDAP, NIS, or PDC Windows Domain authentication services, select the appropriate one for authentication. If you do not know which one to use, you should ask your network administrator.

Note

If you happen to have problems with remembering passwords, if your computer will never be connected to the Internet and you absolutely trust everybody who uses your computer, you can choose to have No password.