At 04:56 PM 10/16/99 -0300, luciano wrote:
>Everywhere i read about not using the root account all the time, but i
>don't see where's the problem in doing it.
>I use linux on 1 machine not conected to a lan, only with a dial
>up connection to internet. My question is, it's really necesary for me
>to have another account besides root (i'm the only one who uses linux
>in this pc)?
>
>
Scaring new newbies with 'root' as a security issue is counter-productive.
The alternative (to operating as 'root') is SO EASY and practical:
You can have the best of both worlds: While logged-on as root, try
Alt-F2 and you can login again.... Login using <yourname> (or whatever).
You are prompted for a password (select an easy one).
If you make a mistake, and you dont know how to correct it, just abandon
it, cleanup later.
Make another user <yourname1> with same easy password.
Now you are logged-in as 'root' and as <yourname1>. No prob for linux.
You have a choice <yourname1> or 'root'.
If you think you can do better in root, use 'root' (if you work carefully
it works just fine).
Find out that you can do most things from <yourname1>. If it does not work,
you still have 'root'. It's just a few keystrokes away.
This switching is also what you can do when something goes wrong on a
terminal..... go to the other terminal and see if you can work your way
out.......
Dont worry about messing-up in root if you can re-install the entire Linux
in 30 minutes or less. You learn faster if you make mistakes.....
Re-installing is good exercise for a new newbie! Just be careful with
DiskDruid, fdisk and similar.
As new newbie I was scared by the evils of operating as root. I thought
opening 'another terminal' meant using another monitor/keyboard.....
One for tty1 and another one for tty2 ..... (In DOS I needed 2 computers
'to talk to myself')
I dont think anyone told me to type Alt-F2 ......
If it is that easy, why operate as 'root'?
---Herman Aa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From a mountaintop on Cebu island, Philippines.
