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Hi folks,
New Slacker here with a question about root: i've used other distros a bit and always had to "sudo" to become root.
It seems that root is the default status in slackware, though, if this is true, different desktop environments seem to have a different approach to the issue, as instanced by the following warning I'm getting, having just opened up Xfce for the first time:
"You are using the root account, you may harm your system"
2 Questions issue from this:
1. how important is it to heed this warning? is it really only an issue when in a gui?
2. if it is important, how can i simply create a user for myself
( i tried adduser and got prompted with issues surrounding groups which is totally new to me)
Xfce includes the warning in every Thunar window (file manager). This is a feature of Xfce, and is unrelated to Slackware specifically. Root is the same regardless of desktop environment, it is no more or less secure/insecure from KDE to Xfce.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEED THIS MESSAGE, particularly as a new user. Distros that use sudo have created a bad situation in Linux, in my opinion.
You were on the right track with adduser, just accept the defaults, and create the user.
It seems that root is the default status in slackware
No, it is not. Indeed, root is the only account available after a fresh install, but you should create an unprivileged user as soon as possible and use that for your everyday work. Using a GUI as root is very bad practice. If you need to run software as root use su (on the CLI) or kdesu (for GUI software, but usually GUI software will ask you for a root password if needed).
The question is moot, since you should never be logging into a DE as root to begin with.
Well, that me be so; but here I am, just making my first steps in slackware, and I have not come across an option in the installation process or the notes that i've read to create a new user. And this is something that I am used to in the few other linux distros I've had a little experience with.
No, it is not. Indeed, root is the only account available after a fresh install, but you should create an unprivileged user as soon as possible and use that for your everyday work. Using a GUI as root is very bad practice. If you need to run software as root use su (on the CLI) or kdesu (for GUI software, but usually GUI software will ask you for a root password if needed).
I'm being prompted for a initial group; when i enter one that i invent, it insists that this does not exist.
Would you be so kind as to give me the command for listing the existing groups available to a new user?
tx
I'm being prompted for a initial group; when i enter one that i invent, it insists that this does not exist.
Would you be so kind as to give me the command for listing the existing groups available to a new user?
tx
Well, that may be so; but here I am, just making my first steps in slackware, and I have not come across an option in the installation process or the notes that i've read to create a new user. And this is something that I am used to in the few other linux distros I've had a little experience with.
Very true. Most ask you to create a user as part of the installation, but Slackware (and Arch) leave it to you. It's one of those distros where you really need to have read all the instructions before installing: see the link given by JWJones.
Type "man useradd" at a prompt for all the options, but to create a user account for your self type "useradd -m username" where "username" is the name of the user you want to create.
The passwd program will let you set/change a password for that user.
My experience doing the above is that you dont really have to worry about the group. The group is usually named after the user you create and given a gid (iirc) of 1000
I'm being prompted for a initial group; when i enter one that i invent, it insists that this does not exist.
Would you be so kind as to give me the command for listing the existing groups available to a new user?
tx
As a first time user just use the default, except when it comes to additional groups for your user, press the up-arrow to get a list of groups that you should accept. When using Slackware you should really start to read the documentation, for example the link given by JWJones, which explains how to add users the correct way.
You also should read the Slackbook, not only for learning Slackware, but for general linux/Unix concepts, like users and groups.
Slackware is not a hold your hands distribution, as you already have recognized, which means that is has a somewhat steeper learning curve. If you are not experienced with Linux core concepts you will probably in the first days spend more time reading than working with the system, but once you mastered the basics you will see the simplicity and elegance of systems like Slackware.
I'm being prompted for a initial group; when i enter one that i invent, it insists that this does not exist.
Would you be so kind as to give me the command for listing the existing groups available to a new user?
tx
You can safely use the defaults. For instance:
Code:
bash-4.2# adduser foo
Login name for new user: foo
User ID ('UID') [ defaults to next available ]:
Initial group [ users ]: (Press ENTER here)
Additional UNIX groups:
Users can belong to additional UNIX groups on the system.
For local users using graphical desktop login managers such
as XDM/KDM, users may need to be members of additional groups
to access the full functionality of removable media devices.
* Security implications *
Please be aware that by adding users to additional groups may
potentially give access to the removable media of other users.
If you are creating a new user for remote shell access only,
users do not need to belong to any additional groups as standard,
so you may press ENTER at the next prompt.
Press ENTER to continue without adding any additional groups
Or press the UP arrow key to add/select/edit additional groups
: audio cdrom floppy plugdev video power netdev lp scanner
Well, that me be so; but here I am, just making my first steps in slackware, and I have not come across an option in the installation process or the notes that i've read to create a new user. And this is something that I am used to in the few other linux distros I've had a little experience with.
Welcome to the Slackware forums, btw!
Yes, most newbie distros these days have su disabled by default, and instead use sudo. Most intermediate distros still use su, but their installers prompt you to create an unprivileged user account (such as Debian and Fedora). As David said, distros such as Slackware and Arch (and Gentoo) leave this to you, they do not hold your hand.
I'm being prompted for a initial group; when i enter one that i invent, it insists that this does not exist.
Would you be so kind as to give me the command for listing the existing groups available to a new user?
tx
When prompted for group I think you press tab & it'll give a default listing with cdrom, audio, video & a few others, then press enter.
Myy bad just noticed that it's answered in post #12
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