[NTLUG:Discuss] Auto Login?

Kevin Brannen kbrannen at gte.net
Sun Apr 9 21:34:48 CDT 2000


lee at brave.com wrote:
> 
> How would one go about setting up the login sequence to go straight to X /
> desktop for a user?  That's right, no password or anything; just turn on
> the machine and have it go straight to the desktop after the boot
> sequence.  (kinda like that other "popular" OS ;)

You'd have to change you /etc/inittab.  Pick the default run level it
goes to, say 5 (and that is configurable too), and change the program
it starts.  Which might be a script that looks like "su - your_id -c
startx" for example, though other work may need to be done to get it
to work.  Note, that may not be all you need to do, please do a lot of
reading in the "howto's" and potentially in
/usr/src/linux/documentation before you try it.  You need to be
crystal clear on how the boot/login sequence works.  Also, be sure you
know how to boot into single user mode, so you can fix & retry if
initial attempts fail.

> 
> As far as network security goes, the machine is masqueraded behind my
> "server" on a cable connection.  No one should have access to the computer
> remotely unless the server has been compromised, right?

Yeh, that's what a firewall is for, assuming you don't get
compoimised.  If you can restrict that to the console (or a single
tty, e.g. tty1), you'd be even better off.  Also consider shutting as
much off in /etc/inetd.conf as you can.

> 
> And for physical security, no one uses this computer but me and doesn't
> have any other user accounts on it.

Other user accounts won't matter.  You'll have the problem of "what if
someone else walks up and starts typing?"  Stupid friends?  Children
who don't know any better?  (don't know if you have kids or not) 
Etc.?

> 
> So what do ya think?  Possible?  Foolish?  Any drawbacks I'm overlooking?
> If it's possible and not a st00pid idea, I'd like to know how to do it.
> :)

Possible?  Sure, it's Linux! :-)  Foolish?  In the right environment,
I don't see any harm in it; you just need to evaluate if your
environment allows for it.  I have considered it before and threw it
out; a Linux unaware spouse and children were the deciding
factors...accidents can happen.

Though if you decide to do it, and are successful, writing a
mini-howto and submitting it to the Linux Documentation Project might
be a nice way to give back. :-)

HTH,
Kevin




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