About the root user
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[edit] I Keep Seeing "root", What Is That?
By this point of the walkthrough, your ArkLinux machine should be fully configured and fun to use. However, the time will probably come that you need to tweak some settings -- you upgraded your hardware, you want to upgrade ArkLinux to a later version, things like this.
This requires something called "permissions" to do. It is just like you expect -- every file and setting on your computer has a list of who is able to change it, and who cannot. This is mostly to keep it secure, but also to make sure system settings are not accidentally changed while you are doing other tasks. The normal "arklinux" user (the default the installer creates) does not have access to every setting on your system.
However, your ArkLinux machine has a special account that allows it to change these files and settings when you are really sure you want to change them. This account is known as "root" or the "Super User". If you're coming from Windows or OS X, you probably know this account as "Administrator", but it is pretty much the same idea.
BIG NOTE BEFORE CONTINUING: The root user has the permissions for ANYTHING on your system, and I do mean ANYTHING. It is extremely easy to break your system by changing the wrong thing! If you are new to ArkLinux, it is strongly suggested that you only use root permissions while being guided by information provided on the forums, the wiki or the Live Chat.
[edit] How Do I Actually Use root?
There are two ways to get root (Administrator) access; using built-in abilities provided by your arklinux account, or by actually signing in as the root user.
[edit] Using the Built-In Abilities
For most purposes it is enough to simply get root access without logging on as the root user. To do this, there are some easily-accessible menu options to make this easier. There are two menu options, found on the Kmenu under the System folder:
- File Manager - Super User Mode. This will open the Konqueror file manager, but in a special mode such that it thinks you are root (Administrator). Thus, in this special manager, you can freely browse folders and files that you normally cannot look at. If you have a problem getting to some file you want, this is the recommended way of getting to it. You can also open settings files that you don't normally have access to in a text editor (like Kwrite) and edit and save them, which is great because sometimes you need to do this, but your normal arklinux account does not have the proper permissions to do so.
- Command Line Interpreter - Super User Mode. This is the more advanced option that calls for typing in commands; any commands typed in this special window will be run as root, meaning they can access or change files that you normally could not look at. Sometimes the tools to fix your computer can only be run on a command line, and so you will need to use this.
PLEASE keep in mind that in either mode you can easily damage your system by changing the wrong settings, so just a reminder to not use either of these modes light-heartedly!
[edit] Logging In As root
ArkLinux comes with the root account technically disabled by default, meaning its not possible to log in as root. This is mostly as a security measure as it makes it harder for anyone to hack into your system and change things on you. However, it can easily be re-enabled and used if you wish.
If you go to Mission Control >> Users & Password, when the window comes up, select the first user on the list. It will have a "uid" (that's a user ID) of 0 and account name of "root". When you click, a new window for root will come up. Select the "Set Password" button, and set a GOOD password. It is recommended to be as many characters as possible, and to mix in numbers and special characters to make it harder to guess. PLEASE write it down in a safe place though, because it cannot be recovered if you lose your password!
After you set the password, be sure the checkbox that says "Account Disabled" is UNchecked (since we want to enable it!), and select "OK", and close all the windows.
You now have the ability to sign in as root instead of the default arklinux user. Go to Kmenu >> Logoff, and at the next prompt, type username root and password whatever you selected, and you will sign in.
Keep in mind: You will have to reboot to log back in as the default arklinux account unless you use the above process to set a password for and enable the arklinux account.
ONE LAST REMINDER: it is recommended that you NOT use the root account for everyday use, ONLY for system emergencies where something needs to be fixed.
On another note, by enabling the account, you also now have the option of signing in as root from a commandline by using the su - command, and typing in the root password that you set earlier. You can now enter commands as the root user, without signing out of the arklinux account! Of course, this is mainly only useful if you are in CLI mode; if you simply opened a Konsole, it is a better idea to use the built-in "Command Line Interpreter - Super User Mode".
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