Root Password

Root Password -

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This is the - most crucial decision point for the security of your GNU/Linux - system: you must 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's why you must - choose a password which is difficult to guess: DrakX will - tell you if the password you chose is too simple. You're not - forced to enter a password, but we strongly - encourage you to do so. 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. -

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The password - should be a mixture of alphanumeric characters and at least 8 - characters long. Never write down root's - password — it makes it far too easy to compromise your - system. -

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One caveat: don't make - the password too long or too complicated because you must be able to - remember it! -

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The password - won't be displayed on screen as you type it. 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, you will have to - use this “incorrect” password when you try to connect - as root, at least for the first time. -

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You can - change the way users are authenticated on your computer by clicking - on the Authentication method button. The - following authentication methods are available: -

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Local file. Use a local file for all - authentication and user information. This is the default - method. -
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LDAP. Use an - LDAP server for some or all authentication - needs. An LDAP directory consolidates certain - types of information within your organization. -
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NIS. Authenticates users against - a NIS domain. This allows you to run a group - of computers in the same NIS domain using a - common password and group file. -
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Smart - Card. Uses SmartCard - hardware for providing authentication services. -
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Windows - Domain. Uses a Windows^® domain controller to - provide authentication services through Active - Directory, Microsoft's implementation of - LDAP. -
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If you select a method other - than Local file, you will be asked to provide - some parameters, which vary from one method to the other. If you - don't know those parameters, you should ask your network - administrator. -

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	Note
	- - If you happen to have - problems remembering passwords, or 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. Please bear in mind that this is an insecure - option, and it is not recommended. - - -

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