User Profile

Linux was originally designed as a multi-user system so every user created has a profile. The profile is part of the carefully layout security system. This security system may seem like a hassle on a standalone desktop with only one user, but that is not true.

As long as your computer connects to the outside world via the Internet or other computer via LAN, the access is two way. Security is a means to control that access.

Linux creates user profiles and group profiles. A group is a collection of users. Since everything in Linux is a file and every file has a permission and ownership attribute defined. Control is well defined because every user and groups has a well defined access.

So what does this mean? An example would help, the camera device has a group permission - the "camera" group. If you belong to the camera group, you have access to the camera device. Similarly for other files/devices.

There are much more to be explore but as a primer, we stop here. Continue with the following sections as exercises to become familiar with your computer.

Adding New User Account

Your Linux Desktop is designed for multiple user usage - this means you can create as many account as you wish (within system limitation).

There are two ways to create an account in this Linuxvillage's preloaded machines. One is from the GNOME menu, the other is form a terminal. Using the one from the GNOME menu is straight forward but you have to select all the group permission yourself. The terminal option has the routine to put the user into default groups allowing for maximum permission without compromising security.

From GNOME desktop, select Desktop->Administrator->Users and Groups from the menu. At the password prompt, enter the root password. Once inside, press the "Add User" button to create new user, press the "groups" tab to add group permissions.

To use the adduser routine, select Application->Accessories->Terminal from the menu. su as root first.

 $ su

Then enter the username like below, replace username with actual name.

 # adduser username

After answering a few prompts, type "exit" to leave terminal.

Changing Passwords

A randomly generated password for root and a normal user is created at install time. Most people find this to be too difficult to remember and would like to replace these passwords. Recommended practise for generating a password should contain letters, numbers and if the authentication on your site permits - punctuations.

To change the user password, select Application->Accessories->Terminal from the menu.

 $ passwd

Type passwd like above, then enter old password and enter new password.

To change root password, su as root first.

 $ su

Once you see the prompt changes, type passwd, enter old password and new password.

 # passwd

Here we leaned how to change the root password. Root is the administrator on the local machine, as a administrator root has unlimited access to the system.

Page locked (last edited December 14, 2009) [info] [diff])
FindPage by browsing or searching

5 best incoming links: FrontPage (4)
5 best outgoing links:
5 most popular nearby: FrontPage (2047)