The terminal is the linux equivilent of the CLI (command line interface, for you windows users...dos prompt).

ROOT is the linux equivilent of Administrator...you need to be Root (or at least Super User (windows=power user), better known as SU, to issue system critical commands (linux is secure, not everyone can change system settings).

So either issue commands as root (login as root first) or issue a SU before the command (such as "su *command you want to execute*").

If you have any other questions, please post. And to all the linux snobs out there, please don't post RTFM...OK? ;-)

GregC