Root Password

This is the most crucial decision point for the security of your GNU/Linux system: you must enter the root password. Root is the system administrator and is the only user authorized to make updates, add users, change the overall system configuration, and so on. In short, root can do everything! That's why you must choose a password which is difficult to guess: DrakX will tell you if the password you chose is too simple. As you can see, you're not forced to enter a password, but we strongly advise against this. GNU/Linux is just as prone to operator error as any other operating system. Since root can overcome all limitations and unintentionally erase all data on partitions by carelessly accessing the partitions themselves, it is important that it be difficult to become root.

The password should be a mixture of alphanumeric characters and at least 8 characters long. Never write down the root password –– it makes it far too easy to compromise your system.

One caveat: don't make the password too long or too complicated because you must be able to remember it!

The password won't be displayed on screen as you type it. To reduce the chance of a blind typing error you'll need to enter the password twice. If you do happen to make the same typing error twice, you'll have to use this “incorrect” password the first time you'll try to connect as root.

If you want an authentication server to control access to your computer, click on the Advanced button.

If your network uses either LDAP, NIS, or PDC Windows Domain authentication services, select the appropriate one for authentication. If you don't know which one to use, you should ask your network administrator.

[Note]Note

If you happen to have problems with remembering passwords, or if your computer will never be connected to the Internet and you absolutely trust everybody who uses your computer, you can choose to have No password.