hi

before asking my question i must tell u that i am a novice in linux, so get ready to expect some stupid questions.

i have recently installed Red Hat Linux 9 on my system. The problem is that i am unable to boot into linux as it's prompts me for a login name.

whenever i start my system, GRUB loader prompts me whether i want to start Linux or DOS.
On selecting linux, tons of system related stuff gets loaded and then it prompts me for a local host login (which it never asked me to create during installation).
it looks something like this:-
------------------------------------------------

Red Hat linux release 9 (shrike)
Kernel 2.4.20-8bigmem on an i686

local host login:

------------------------------------------------

is there some kind of default login name and password that i have to put in ???

plz help!!!

thanx

As you were installing RedHat, it asked you for an "Administrator" username & password. This Administrator account can do everything to the system, edit the kernel, delete important files etc... It's an important account, and every Linux install has one. I don't think there is a default, you could try an empty username & password, or Administrator & blank password?

GF

thanx for ur reply but i was able to get pass that one by entering "root" as login name.
but then i came across another problem.
after login in, command prompt appears (similar to DOS-prompt)
how do i shift to GUI linux ????

Hello Jags,

It's been a while since I last used Linux myself but if I am not mistaken, there's an option box for you to select whether you want to get into the GUI (you even have choices here) or text only. This is at the point of logging in, look below the bit where you enter 'root' and the password.

I miss using Linux...

__________________
J de Silva
Learning Journal | GIDForums™ | GIDNetwork™ | GIDWebhosts™ | GIDSearch™

Hi Jags. It sounds like Linux is working fine. What you want to do is start the X-server. This can be started automatically at boot-up, but whenever I set up a new linux machine I like to start this up manually for the first few times, so I can work out any kinks.

If your X was properly setup by your install program (I don't use Redhat so I am not sure how it sets things up exactly.), try typing at the command prompt:


If your screen flashes and dumps you back at the command prompt, that means that your X is not configured. I think that typing:


will get you an automatic scanning of your system and configure x for you. I ussually use:


This will actually ask you questions about your hardward and allows you to setup hardware that may not be properly recognized.

If you are really hardcore, the X configuration file is ussually found at: /etc/X11/XF86Config. You can edit this file. If you are new, you may want to hold off on this for a bit.

Okay. If this works and you want to start up the x-server automatically, you can do this in one of several ways. The best way is to change your run level. Check for a file named, /etc/inittab. If it exists list the contents in the terminal window. This can be done like:

or


to scan one page at a time. Near the top of the file there should be something that lists the runlevels. For instance in Slackware, you simply need to change the 3 to runlevel 4 at this line:

Again, I have never used Redhat, so I am not 100% sure of the differences.

Let me know if any of this doesn't make sense. I think that the biggest thing that you want to avoid is trying to compare Linux to Windows. It is not Windows, it is different. Windows definitely has some major advantages to Linux, esp. in setup. But try not to get frustrated or give up. It is all worth it (IMO) and I feel by using Linux I have learned much more about the computers and the way that they work.

GOOD LUCK!

A late "Hi",
First of all, there is all kinds of good linux info for beginners on up at the linux Documentation Project: http://tldp.org/

I run Redhat9 on an old P2 300mhz laptop and Fedora FC4 on an old P3 500mhz dexktop.
They both have this layout: As stated in previous msg. the last stmet shown there:
id:3:initdefault:
...determies my runlevel. The listing above that describes the different runlevels.
As you see here, I like to boot to runlevel3 and startx from that F1 terminal screen.

And regarding the terminal screens in both of my installations, booting runlevel3:
I start with 6 regular oln 80 x 25 character, black, terminal screens (tty's).
I start with the ono on F1.
Each of the others can be accessed by holding down alt- and hitting the appropriate F? key.
Like: Alt-F1, Alt-F2, Alt-F3, Alt-F4, Alt-F5, Alt-F6
I will need to log into either of these (or all) as "user" or "root" in order to do anything at all.
I usually log into the first one as user , and give password
Then I type "startx" which will start the "Gnome Desktop" environment.
Once i gnome I can start multiple "xterms" which will automatically open as logged in by "user" (my original loggin name,, that's me for the whole session ok?)
Now. . .
...once there I can go back to my black TTY screens by holding down ctrl-alt-F1 ,2,3,4 etc.
Once at one of them I need only hold downalt-F1, 2, 3, to switch.
To get back to the X session, where Gnome is still runnin, I hit Alt-F7 ...and I'm there!
Any terminal I am logged in as user I can su out to root by typing: su ...and supplying password when prompted.

Usernames and passwords are very important. Especially roots' password! With that you can find th other users and assin new passwords...
If I didn't write down and/or remember the root password when I installed , I would need to re-install !!!
And while I'm re-installing I would think about the importance of paying attention! which I have done ,, many times......

Another thing,,, Not sure, been a while, but I think when you boot the "single user mode" is like the "rescue mode" where you do not log in and you have a wierd prompt, you are actually on a ramdisk and so free to "operate" on the system while it is not in use. This is like many livecd distros.
It can be very handy , AND VERY DANGEROUS! Just like being root or su can be. use caution!
Howard();

even similar thing happened with me once. I did not put the Linux root username and password. Then I did the following:
I put the Disk 1 and booted it with the option linux rescue
after that when the system booted up.
Then the partition will be mounted on /mnt/sysimage
It's been a long time since I did it but if you get some error messages please revert.
when the system got entirely booted up, i wrote this command
"su root"
then wrote "passwd"
then the system asked for a new linux password, I entered it and rebooted without the CD.
Tada, it worked, it was accepting the new password.