Chapter 7. Q & A: Quick Answers to Common Questions

Table of Contents
Your First Login
Using a Diskette
Switching Environments
Shutting Down
Error Message While Installing an RPM
Starting Applications
Accessing a Windows Partition
Find Some Commands Fast
Keep ls Output from Scrolling
Tips on Using Command History
Unable to Log In
Starting "Services"
Using All Available RAM

Your First Login

Q: Logging In the First Time

I just installed Red Hat Linux, but now I see this screen that says "login." What do I do now?

A: Logging In as Root or User

When you installed Red Hat Linux, you were asked to create a root password and an account called root was created for you. The root account is all-knowing, all-powerful (at least, as far as your system is concerned).

You were also given the opportunity to create one or more user accounts at that time, for which you could specify a login name and a password.

When you see login:, then, type either the name and password of a user account you've already created during the installation, or log in as root by typing root.

In the password: field, type in the root password you were asked to create during the installation of Red Hat Linux, or the password for a user account.

What to do next? Well, if you're root -- the system administrator -- one of your first tasks should be to create a user account, if you haven't already done so. (Every good system administrator works within their user account, rather than rely on the root account for most mundane tasks.) Refer to Chapter 2 for instructions on how to create your user account.