User Management

Administrator (root) Password

The Root Password is Key to Your System Security.  The root user 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 tells you if the password you chose is too simple. Depending on the security level you chose, you're not forced to enter a password, but we strongly encourage you to do so. 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, becoming root must be difficult.

Choose the Right Password.  The password should be a mixture of alphanumeric characters and its minimum length will vary according to the chosen security level. Never write down root's password — it makes it far too easy to compromise your system. However, don't make the password too long or too complicated because you must be able to remember it too!

[Tip] Check your password is secure enough

User management application can help you to check your password is strong enough. In password field, you will see an icon coming as you are entering your password. The icon means your password is much too weak and could be broken in a few seconds. The icon means your password is rather secure but you could have a much better one. Finally the icon means your password is really secure, you should not have any problem using it.

Enter the Password, Twice.  The password won't be displayed on screen as you type it. To reduce the chance of a blind typing error you have to enter the password twice.

Enter a User

Create a User.  You are first asked for a real name. DrakX uses the first word you type in this field and copies it, all in lowercase, to the Login name field, which is the name this user must enter to log on to the system. Then enter a password, twice (for confirmation). From a security point of view, a non-privileged (regular) user's password isn't as crucial as the root password, but that's no reason to neglect it by making it too simple: after all, your files could be the ones at risk.

Linux is a Secure Multi-User System.  You can add other users. Refer to the section called “Checking Miscellaneous Parameters”. Each user may have his own preferences, files and so on. But unlike the system administrator called root, the user you create at this point is not authorized to change anything except its own files and configurations, protecting the system from unintentional or malicious changes which could have a serious impact.

[Tip] More options for users accounts

Clicking on Advanced allows you to change the default shell for that user (bash by default), and to manually choose the user and group IDs for that user.

By default, new installation of Mandriva Linux comes with a guest account (Refer to ???. You can disable it by unchecking Guest account enabled.