User and Superuser Management

Set Administrator (root) Password:

It is advisable for all Mageia installations to set a superuser or administrator's password, usually called the root password in Linux. As you type a password into the top box the shield in its colour will change from red to yellow to green depending on the strength of the password. A green shield shows you are using a strong password. You need to repeat the same password in the box just below the first password box, this checks that you have not mistyped the first password by comparing them.

[Note] Note

All passwords are case sensitive, it is best to use a mixture of letters (upper and lower case), numbers and other characters in a password.

Enter a user

Add a user here. A user has less rights than the superuser (root), but by default enough to surf the internet, use office applications or play games and anything else the average user does with his computer

  • Icon: if you click on this button it will change the users icon.

  • Real Name: Insert a users real name into this text box.

  • Login Name: Here you can type in a log in name or drakx will use a version of the users real name. The log in name is case sensitive.

  • Password: In this text box you should type in a users pass word. Again it has a shield in the corner of the text box that indicates the strength of the users password. (See also Note)

  • Password (again): Retype the users password into this text box and drakx will check you have the same password in each of the users password text boxes.

Advanced User Management

If the advanced button is clicked then you get offered this screen that allows you to edit the settings for the user you are adding. Additionally, you can disable or enable a guest account. The guest account allows a guest to log into and use the PC, but he has more restricted access than normal users

[Warning] Warning

Anything a guest with a default rbash guest account saves to his /home directory will be erased. The guest should save his important files to a USB key.

  • Enable guest account: Here you can enable or disable a guest account

  • Shell: This drop down list allows you to change the shell used by the user you are adding in the previous screen, options are Bash, Dash and Sh

  • User ID: Here you can set the user ID for the user you are adding in the previous screen. This is a number. Don't enter anything here if you don't know what it should be.

  • Group ID: This lets you set the group ID. Also a number, usually the same one as for the user.