Part I. Introducing Linux / Chapter 1. First Contact | ||||
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 | Part I. Introducing Linux | 1.2. The User Concept of Linux |  | |
Part I. Introducing Linux / Chapter 1. First Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I. Introducing Linux | 1.2. The User Concept of Linux | | |
Table of Contents
Abstract
This chapter guides you through the first encounter with your freshly installed Linux system. Learn all about the different components of your system environment. After this crash course, you should be fit to use and enjoy your SUSE LINUX system.
This chapter focuses on the installed system. It does not cover questions regarding the installation or hardware configuration procedures under SUSE LINUX. These procedures are covered in-depth in the Administration Guide and some of the most frequently encountered problems are dealt with in the SUSE LINUX FAQ at the end of this book.
If your computer is not run in a networking environment and you are the only person using it, your system automatically boots into the desktop environment. Once you have started your computer, there is no need for you to authenticate. This feature, called auto login, is only provided by the KDM display manager, however. It can be disabled at any time using the YaST user management module described in the Administration Guide.
If more than one user account is configured on your computer, any user must authenticate. After your SUSE LINUX system has started, you are prompted for your username and password.
Depending on the desktop environment installed, the program managing the login process and sessions is either GDM for GNOME desktops or KDM for KDE. GDM and KDM differ slightly in functionality, which is why they are treated separately. See Section 1.3, “Desktop” for details on the desktop environments or refer to the separate GNOME or KDE chapters, Chapter 3, The GNOME Desktop or Chapter 4, The KDE Desktop.
A GDM login screen consists of two main components, the input field for username and password and a menu. See Figure 1.1, “A GDM Login Screen”.
The menu contains three items:
Select the language to use in the following GNOME session. You may change the language temporarily for just the next session or set the choice permanently as your default.
Determine the session type (GNOME, KDE, etc.). Change this setting only if you want to use something other than the system default. Future sessions will always be of the same type as the initial one, unless you change the session type manually. If you change your session type manually, you will be asked whether the changes should be applied to the following sessions or whether they should be made default for all future sessions.
Choose some system-related actions, such as shutting down the system, rebooting it, or configuring the login manager.
To terminate the session, choose from the menu. Then determine whether you want to save the current state of your session, end your session and leave the system running, or restart or shut down on logout. Choose to save your session if you want to start your next one with exactly the same setup as when you leave.
A KDM login screen consists of two main elements. As shown in Figure 1.2, “A KDM Login Screen”, it has input fields for username and password and a menu.
The menu provides the following options:
Determine the session type. Make changes only if you want to use a session type other than the default (KDE). Future sessions are automatically of the same type unless you change the session type manually.
enables you to log in on a remote machine. either turns the computer off completely or reboots the system.
To terminate the session, choose from the main menu. Then determine whether to end your session and leave the system running or restart or shut down on logout. If your system provides power management, you are offered to suspend the computer, making the next system start much faster than a complete boot.
