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Chapter 3. Installing Red Hat Linux

Figure 3 22. Account Creation

3.25.1. Setting the Root Password

Setting up a root account and password is one of the most important steps during your installation.

Your root account is similar to the administrator account used on Windows NT machines. The root

account is used to install packages, upgrade RPMs, and perform most system maintenance. Logging

in as root gives you complete control over your system.

Note

The root user (also known as the superuser) has complete access to the entire system; for this rea 

son, logging in as the root user is best done only to perform system maintenance or administration.

Use the root account only for system administration. Create a non root account for your general use

and

su  

to root when you need to fix something quickly. These basic rules will minimize the chances

of a typo or an incorrect command doing damage to your system.

Tip

To become root, type su   at the shell prompt in a terminal window and then press [Enter]. Then,

enter the root password and press [Enter].

The installation program will prompt you to set a root password

2

for your system. You must enter a

root password. The installation program will not let you proceed to the next section without entering

a root password.

2. A root password is the administrative password for your Red Hat Linux system. You should only log in as

root when needed for system maintenance. The root account does not operate within the restrictions placed on

normal user accounts, so changes made as root can have implications for your entire system.