Root user

From openSUSE

Root user is the system administrator with highest privileges. It can do anything that is physically possible to do with a computer, or computer system, running Linux.

Login as root

There is more then one way to become root and administer your computer.

The most often needed are using virtual terminal, popular name text mode, and some of applications that emulate that terminal in graphic mode, also known as console.

• In a text mode you will see:

 Login:

Here you have to type in root and press Enter. Next will come prompt for password:

 Password:

here you type in root password. Be aware that there is no visual feedback as you type, ie. no stars will appear with every key press, but it works fine.

• In console application you are already logged as normal user, so you have to switch to root:

 su root

Now you will be asked for root password, as above:

 Password:

give root password and press Enter.

• In console you can use alternative syntax:

 su - 

which is the same as su root

• Don't use:

 su

While recommended in many places on the Internet. It has it's purpose, but it should be used only if you understand that you get root rights with user environment. If you don't understand last sentence, then just don't use it.

• Command sudo in openSUSE is the same as su -, just more typing.