Logging In to SUSE Linux

After you have installed SUSE Linux and created at least one user (yourself) on the system, you must log in. The standard login is pretty straightforward. By default, SUSE Linux boots to a KDE-based graphical login screen, known as the display manager. You enter your username (or click the icon representing you) and password and identify whether you want to start KDE, GNOME, some other X Window manager or a shell/command line (what appears in this drop-down menu is set by the Root user, so your options may differ). Press Enter to finish booting.

Logging In from the Shell

What about those times when you don't need to load graphics just to log in, get a piece of information, and shut down? Or what if X has a problem loading? The text login is a simple process. SUSE Linux boots to a login shell. Type your username and press Enter to get the password prompt. Enter your password and you have full access to your system (or at least as much access as you have with the graphical interface).

Note

In this book, you will see some terms for the Linux command-line interface used somewhat interchangeably.

Most often, you'll see shell or command line to refer to this interface. When you read about a command to run at the shell prompt, you can run that command whether or not you have a graphical interface loaded.

Occasionally, you will see a reference to a console, or X Terminal (xterm, for short). These refer to graphical shells within an X environment. Some consoles have additional tricks they can do that a standard shell can't. When you see these terms, understand that the instructions apply only to the graphical shell.

Note

If you get the text login prompt as a result of something bad happening and X won't boot, it is always better to log in as Root because you will have more tools to fix what went wrong. If you are not Root (the system administrator), go get the person who is.

Logging Out of the Shell

Typing exit or logout logs you out of the shell. At this point, another user can log in, or you can shut down your computer. Depending on your settings, users may be able to use the shutdown or reboot commands to perform these tasks.