There are often several Linux OS (operating system) terms that are similar, the same, or somehow related.

This article will clear up the confusion about the terms: root user, / (root directory) and /root (the home directory of the root user)!

First, you will learn about the root user, and then see a brief description of the / (root) directory and the /root (home directory) of the root user.

Linux Tips: The articles with names ending in “Linux Concepts & Terms” help you learn Linux “geek-speak” (terms). By learning Linux terms (the Linux “lingo”) you will be able to understand Linux concepts and more easily learn how to use Linux. This is an excellent way to start your Linux training. The root User

To do Linux system administration tasks, like create Linux users and assign permissions to users, you work as the Linux user named root.

The root user has all permissions (rights, capabilities) to all of the Linux system, including all directories and files.

Linux users that are used for day-to-day tasks, like word processing and working on a spreadsheet, are referred to as “regular” or non-root users. When you’re not doing Linux system administration tasks, always work as a non-root user.

When doing Linux system administration, work as the root user and be extremely careful running Linux commands - because you could damage or destroy your Linux installation - and then immediately log out!

The root user is also referred to as superuser (no, really, and you don’t even get a cape!) and also referred to as su.

When you boot Linux to a console or terminal (and not a Linux desktop), you see a text (not GUI) Login: prompt and you can log in as root to do Linux administration tasks.

However, when you boot a Linux system that has a desktop, you log in at a GUI login prompt and then the Linux desktop appears.

For various security reasons, never log in to a Linux desktop as the root user. Log in to the Linux desktop as a “regular” (non-root) user and then open a Linux terminal (terminal emulation window) on the desktop and use the su command with the - (dash) option to log in and work as the root user.

Linux Tips: The Linux su command gets its name from the word superuser. The su command is run in a Linux terminal emulation window to log in and work as the root user, after logging in to a Linux desktop as a “regular” (non-root) user. Never log in to a Linux desktop as the root user.

Linux Tips: By default, the root user is locked (disabled, unusable) in Ubuntu Linux and you run the Linux sudo command along with Linux system administration commands rather than logging in as root - or using the su command to log in as root.

Now, imagine how easy it will be to learn how to use Linux by seeing all these Linux terms and concepts being clearly presented in a Linux video tutorial!

Related Linux Terms

Below are the terms that are similar to, and related to, the root user.

Similar Linux Terms: root user, / (root) directory in the Linux file system and /root (the home directory of the root user)

The / (root) Directory

The root directory of the Linux filesystem is represented (symbolized) by a / (forward slash). All directories in the Linux file system are “below”, or “off of” the / (root) directory.

The /root Directory - The Home directory of the root User

The directory named root, located directly “below” or “off of” the / (root) directory, is the “home” directory of the root user.

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A. Using a Linux “Live” CD or DVD

A Linux “live” CD or DVD contains the complete Linux OS (operating system) on a single CD or DVD. This includes a Linux
“point-and-click” desktop, which is very much like the Windows desktop, and many other programs, such as application software programs, utilities, and servers. Pretty incredible, really. To use a Linux live CD or DVD, you need to boot your system with it. After a minute or so, a Linux desktop will appear on the
screen. From the desktop, you use menus to run lots of different programs and you can also go to the command line prompt to run Linux commands.

Linux Tech Tip: After booting a system from a Linux live CD or DVD, you don’t have access to any other OS on your system, such as Windows. In other words, if you boot with a live CD, you don’t have access to Windows or any Windows programs.

Most computers boot from a hard disk inside the system, if there is nothing in the CD or DVD drive. To use a Linux live CD or DVD, you need to put it in the appropriate drive and boot your system from it. That is, you need to shut your system down and then start it again with the CD or DVD in the drive.

Some systems will automatically detect the CD or DVD in the drive and boot from it, but on other systems you may need to do one or two extra steps if this doesn’t happen.

Linux Tech Tip: On many newer systems, you can get your system to boot from CD or DVD (rather than from its hard disk) by simply pressing a key, such as the letter “C”, as your system is booting up. On other systems, you may need to change a setting in your system’s BIOS (Basic Input Output System) so that it boots from CD or DVD - if in doubt, see your manual (yeah, right!) or call the place you got it from.

B. The Linux “Live” Environment

Here’s a recap: When you boot a live version of Linux, you start the Linux OS entirely from CD or DVD and get a Linux desktop, at which you can run programs and go to the prompt to run commands.

After booting a Linux “live” version, you’ll see the Linux desktop, which looks surprisingly like Windows! You can use your
mouse to select items from the menus and double-click on icons on the desktop to run Linux programs.

For example the Open Office suite of programs is automatically available on lots of Linux live distros, and is remarkably
similar to the Microsoft Office suite of programs (such as Word and Excel).

Think -> Open Office (Linux) = Microsoft Office (Windows).

The Open Office suite is used on lots of Linux systems. It has a powerful, full-featured word processor, spreadsheet, database,
and other programs.

When using a Linux live CD or DVD, you start out working at the desktop. The Linux desktop has menus that give you access to lots of other programs.

Think -> Linux Desktop Menus = Windows Desktop Menus.

The Windows desktop usually only gives you access to local programs, and not to servers on the same system. However, the
Linux desktop gives you access to local programs AND several types of F-R-E-E Linux servers.

For example, you can boot a Linux live version and easily run the Samba server (a popular “Windows compatible” file server) and the Apache server (the world’s most popular web server).

Tech Tip: A recent survey estimated that over 80% of all web sites in the world were running the Apache web server, on top of
the Linux OS! That’s a HUGE number of servers!

Linux is everywhere, but it’s usually running as a server OS rather than a desktop OS and so you don’t see it. You can easily
see web pages at a web site, but don’t know that the web site is running the Apache web server on top of Linux!

Another thing you can do from a Linux live desktop is go to the command prompt to run commands - the real power behind Linux administration.

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The computer technician, or information technician (IT) as they are often called, has almost unlimited opportunity in the job market today. The field does have certain requirements. It is a three pronged thing. First, you must learn. This is the training stage. It can begin as early as high school. The training does not have to be all inside the classroom either. As more and more homes have personal computers, the opportunities for home CBT, or computer based training increases. A person with a serious interest in becoming a computer technician will spend at least as much time trying to understand how a computer game works as they do actually playing the game.

The second stage of preparation is the gaining of experience. The computer field is not all that much different from many other technical based fields. There is only so much you can learn from a book, and the rest you have to learn in a hands on environment. You have to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty. The third aspect of preparation is Certification. It is the combination of training and experience and it is the tangible indication of your skill.

One major one is the A+ certification. It is also called the ComTia A+ Certification after the Computing Technology Industry Association. This certificate is vendor neutral which means it spans the full spectrum of hardware and software producers. It covers the basics of computer technology including installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking. It also explores the domains of security, safety, and even environmental issues and professional standards. A+ boot camps are intensive training course designed to not only prepare you for the certification examination, but also to provide practical and hands on training. Another certificate program that is highly desirable for the computer technician is the MCSE certification. This is the Microsoft Certified System Engineer. You can prepare for this certification at MCSE boot camps also. This prepares you to work with Microsoft 2000 and 2003 Windows platforms and Microsoft Server Systems.

The proper preparation for a career as a computer technician is going to involve all three of these aspects. There are no real shortcuts to success here. You are going to need training, experience, and ultimately Certification to prosper. There are different ways to achieve these goals, and boot camps are one of the best ways to take care of all three at the same time.

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