Root -vs- User?

carlosinfl · 05-30-2004, 10:43 AM

Ok, so I get a choice of logging in between Root and my user account.

What is the difference? Why not just login to Root all the time and run all my apps from the root account?

I notice that when I run all my updates as a user, then for some reason have to jump back as Root, my root account is all out of date?

Should I run updates on the root and user account ( kind of redundant) or just leave root alone and worry about my only user account.

Just confused.

david_ross · 05-30-2004, 10:46 AM

This has been asked many times before.

You should always login as your user account and only use the root account for administrative tasks. This is a very simple way to improve your system security without having to do much.

In order to apply the updates you will need to supply the root password as you will need write access to system directories.

carlosinfl · 05-30-2004, 10:52 AM

sorry David - guess I should have used the search tool. So you are saying that I SHOULD login to Root via GUI and apply all the service patches to it as well?

I guess if you look at it from a Windows stand point ( I am use to windows ) , If I apply service pack, it applies it to the entire OS, where as in Linux FC1, it seems to apply it to only the user that runs the update?

Correct me if I am wrong...

david_ross · 05-30-2004, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carlwill
sorry David - guess I should have used the search tool. So you are saying that I SHOULD login to Root via GUI and apply all the service patches to it as well?

It is not reccomended that you login to the gui as root. If you are using kde or gnome you will be prompted for the root password when required. If you need to start an application as root - do so on the CLI by suing to root:
su -

Then enter your root password. You will then have root privilages in that shell.