Adding a User

GNU/Linux is a multi-user system, meaning each user may have their own preferences, their own files and so on. You can read the Starter Guide to learn more about multi-user systems. But unlike root, who is the system administrator, the users you add at this point will not be authorized to change anything except their own files and their own configurations, protecting the system from unintentional or malicious changes that impact on the system as a whole. You will have to create at least one regular user for yourself –– this is the account which you should use for routine, day-to-day use. Although it is very easy to log in as root to do anything and everything, it may also be very dangerous! A very simple mistake could mean that your system will not work any more. If you make a serious mistake as a regular user, the worst that will happen is that you will lose some information, but not affect the entire system.

The first field asks you for a real name. Of course, this is not mandatory –– you can actually enter whatever you like. DrakX will use the first word you typed in this field and copy it to the User name field, which is the name this user will enter to log onto the system. If you like, you may override the default and change the user name. The next step is to enter a password. From a security point of view, a non-privileged (regular) user password is not as crucial as the root password, but that is 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 or your sister, for example. Click Next -> when you have finished adding users.

Tip

Clicking the Advanced button allows you to change the default shell for that user (bash by default).

When you have finished adding users, you will be asked to choose a user who can automatically log into the system when the computer boots up. If you are interested in that feature (and do not care much about local security), choose the desired user and window manager, then click Next ->. If you are not interested in this feature, uncheck the Do you want to use this feature? box.