[Wylug-help] SuSE Linux Question(s)

[Dave Fisher]

On Fri, Aug 08, 2003 at 08:31:23AM +0100, PhilLaszkowicz at halifax.co.uk wrote:
> 1. I'm trying to change my username and although it appears to work using YaST2 (user login changed and home directory changed) I still get issues when attempting to do things like mounting my DVD-ROM to play CDs on XMMS.  Are there other things that need changing and if so, what are they?

Perhaps, I've misunderstood what you are trying to do, but it is
standard Unix/Linux practice to reserve disk mounting for the superuser
root (an elementary security measure).

Most modern distros recognise that ordinary users now need to access
many disk-like devices and therefore create specialist user groups for
cdrom, cdrecorder, audio, video etc. These groups usually have full
permission to do anything with the relevant device.

In order to use said devices, all you need to do is add yourself to the
relevant user group (usermod or edit /etc/group), i.e. you shouldn't
need to change your user id to access a device.  You may have to login
again (not reboot) for the new group membership to be recognised.

Once you've got to the stage of wanting to change your default system
setup regularly it's generally advisable to leave the distro-specific
GUI config tools behind and start learning how to use the underlying
text configs that are practically identical on all distros and much more
consistent.   This consistency also means that virtually any experienced
Linux or Unix user can help you, whereas the GUI tools have very much
smaller pools of experienced users.


Dave