In Linux, the administrator is referred to as "root" other operating systems such as Windows. This user has unrestricted privileges and access rights to the entire system. This means root can:
1. The administrator in Linux:
2. Security and best practices
1.) The administrator in Linux:
1. Manage file systems
The root user has read, write and execute rights to all files and directories in the system, regardless of the permissions set for other users.
2. Manage users and groups
root can create new users and groups, modify or delete existing accounts and change users' passwords.
3. Modify system configuration
As root, one can access and modify all configuration files, including those related to the network, services and hardware.
4. Install and uninstall software
root has the authority to install, remove or update software packages, including core components of the operating system.
5. Control processes
root can view, control and terminate all running processes, including those started by other users.
2.) Security and best practices
The extensive privileges of root make this user extremely powerful, but also dangerous if used improperly. Therefore, there are some best practices:
- Minimal use of root
It is recommended to work as root as little as possible. Instead, one should perform everyday tasks with a normal user account.
- Use of sudo
To minimize the need to log in directly as root, there is the sudo command. This allows a normal user to temporarily gain root privileges to perform certain administrative tasks. The user must be registered in the sudoers file.
- Strong passwords
The root password should be strong and secure to prevent unauthorized access.
- Access logging
It is advisable to log all accesses and actions of root in order to perform an audit if necessary and identify possible security breaches.
In summary, root is the superuser in Linux who can manage the entire system. But with this power comes great responsibility, which is why access to the root user should be highly secured and limited to what is necessary.
