16. Adding a User

GNU/Linux is a multi-user system which means each user can have his or her own preferences, own files and so on. But unlike root, who is the system administrator, the users you add at this point won't be authorized to change anything except their own files and their own configurations, protecting the system from unintentional or malicious changes which could have a serious impact on it.

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 usage. Although it's 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 won't work any more. If you make a serious mistake as a regular user, the worst that can happen is that you'll lose some information, but you won't affect the entire system.

The first field asks you for a real name. DrakX will use the first word you type in this field and copy it, all in lowercase, to the Login name field, which is the name this user will enter to log on to the system. You can override it and change the Login Name. The next step is to enter a password. From a security point of view, a non-privileged (regular) user's password is not as crucial as the root password, but that's 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, your sister, etc. Click Next when you're finished adding users.

[Tip] Tip

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

When you're finished adding users, you'll be asked to choose a user who will be automatically logged into the system when the computer boots up. If you're interested in that feature (and don't care much about security), choose the desired user (if more than one regular user is defined) and select a window manager, then click on Next. If you're not interested in this feature, uncheck the Do you want to use this feature? box.