Chapter 2. Logging into the Desktop
This section of the Fedora Desktop User Guide explains how to login
to your system. The
user account
and the
password created during the installation process is necessary to
complete this step. If you have forgotten your user account, your
password, or both, read Section 2.2, “I Cannot Login: HELP!”. For
additional information about the login process, read
Section 2.1, “Logging In: An Explanation”. This first section covers
the login process.
Any user can now login when the display looks similar to the picture
below:
To login, type your username into the horizontal field containing a
blinking black bar (the
cursor
). Next, press
the
[Enter]
key. Next, type your
password into the same field you typed your username, then press the
[Enter]
key.
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Password display |
For security reasons, a dot is displayed
for every character entered in the password field.
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Keep your password private |
As with any password, your Fedora account
password should be kept private and not shared with anyone or
written down in plain view.
Each computer user should be assigned a unique username and
password. With unique user accounts, the system is more secure,
and Fedora automatically stores files and other sensitive
information separately from other users.
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Your username and password are case-sensitive. |
A correct username and password is required to login to the
system. Common errors include mis-typed fields or the
[Caps Lock]
feature is on.
Remember, usernames and passwords are case-sensitive. This means
that 'user' is not the same as 'USER' or 'uSeR'. If problems
persist, read the section Section 2.2, “I Cannot Login: HELP!”
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After a correct username and password are entered, the login screen
will be replaced by the
splash screen
. After
this, the splash screen should be replaced by the default Fedora 6
desktop. Congratulations! The computer is now ready for use.
2.1. Logging In: An Explanation
Fedora is a
multi-user
operating system. In
short, this means multiple users can be logged into the computer
at the same time. Three distinct groups,
normal
user
,
system user
and
administrative accounts exist on your Fedora system. By default,
your account is created as a
normal user
account. Normal users have permission to run a desktop and related
desktop applications. System users have permission to programs
running in the background, often with elevated privileges, that
help maintain your computer system. One example of a system
account is the Xscreensaver program.
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Modify Default Login Procedure with Xscreensaver. |
The Fedora login process is regulated by a system user called
Xscreensaver
. Xscreensaver
secures your desktop when it is unattended and can be configured
by accessing the following menu options:
System >
Preferences > Screensaver
.
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Administrative accounts are accounts with elevated privileges,
such as the
root
account, that enable the
user to perform tasks to alter the behavior and ability of other
users on the computer system. The
root
user
is considered the "ultimate" administrative account as it has
domain over the entire machine. For more information about these
different levels, permissions, and user provisioning, please refer
to the
Fedora
Administration Guide.
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Day-to-day tasks do not require root level access. |
Do not log into your desktop as root, as it is potentially
dangerous. When the need arises to perform maintenance duties
such as installing software, removing software, or updating the
system, the tool can be run as the root user. This is done in
this guide with the command form su -c
'command-to-be-run-as-root' . Programs that require root
privileges will to prompt you for the root password before the
program starts.
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