Chapter8.Linux Accounts

Chapter 8. Linux Accounts

Linux is a multi-user operating systema system that allows many users to work on the same computer, at the same time. For this to work, each user's work must be kept separate. One user can't be allowed to interfere with another's work, either accidentally or with evil intentions. A system that allowed your rival to delete the report you spent weeks writing would not be very popular. Linux accounts keep users' work private and protected.

A Linux system basically consists of files and processes. All information is organized into files and each file is owned by an account, protected from other accounts. All work done on your computer, including the invisible work that keeps your computer running, is done in a processa program that is running. A program is run by an account. Consequently, you can do nothing on Linux without an account.

You may be the only person working on your computer. If so, user accounts may seem unnecessary to you. Nevertheless, you can't work on Linux without an account. So, at least one account is required. Accounts help protect you from unauthorized access from the Internet, as well as unauthorized access from your desk chair.

You will see accounts on your system that you didn't create. These are special accounts that run system and application processes. Some are created during installation. Others are created by the installation process when you install a software application. However, these are not accounts that you are likely to need to log in to. Only a system administrator is likely to need to understand or work with special accounts.