How CAN I add a user to Knoppix V6.2 DVD KDE boot

**GCMartin** · 01-11-2010, 02:05 AM

I've booted Knoppix desktop=KDE. But I cannot administer any desktop apps.

I want to add users to my Knoppix system. But I can't because I don't know the correct procedure for Knoppix use. After booting, on Knoppix desktop, I go to "Start" and it shows that the current Knoppix logon desktop user is "knoppix".

Booting Knoppix. At desktop I go to Start...Applications...System...Users & Groups...User Settings or hit button for Group Settings. These screens look like where I should be adding users, BUT, everything is 'grayed-out'.

Anyone know why???

Also, other administration applications screens are grayed out as well. Hmmmm...Why?

Also, I go to Start...Favorties...System Setting...Personal...User. screen. There,. I cannot change my current desktop user ID, "knoppix", password here. Hmmmm...Why?

Knoppix at the desktop; it Seems ALL system and desktop administration is "locked". Hmmmm...Why?

If you know the reason, it would really help. If you know a resolution, that would most certainly help.

**laptopdragon** · 01-15-2010, 12:03 PM

1st thing, i am currently using mandriva w/ e16, my knoppix is on my living room pc. so these screenshots may not be what you see..

i start off with a simple s.s. and easy background, the middle 3 are busy, so is the s.s., the last is back to serenity.

simply stated, in a terminal window (i love eterm) type .
su -
yourrootpassword
adduser yournewusername
exit
cd /home
ls

and you will find it all very neat and easy. (and powerful)

and that sums it up.
now, if you want passwords too, log back in as root (or su - ) and addpasswd yourusername (you don't need a passwd tho, just hit enter to login w/a passwordless user.

**laptopdragon** · 01-15-2010, 01:25 PM

after reviewing those pix, i find they are too small.

here is a rundown for posterity.

you will not get ANY notification if you succeed on a new user, i got a messege of failure-= already exists...

the /home is necessary to see your users (thats where they live by defualt) notice hidden user g1 (even from root

**GCMartin** · 01-21-2010, 06:45 PM

@laptopdragon - Thank you for your post.

I can see some of the effort you suggest here. BUT,

what I was hoping for is a description to use Knoppix's GUI services to add/remove a user. For starters, I cannot seem to use the Knoppix desktop KDE menu items to administer anything in the system. Its as if all admin tools are NOT allowed by anyone who boots using Knoppix LiveCD.

I can go to a terminal window. become superuser (su), and do things. BUT this does NOT allow me to use KDE menu items to do admin tasks.

I am missing something about how the "RIGHTS" are assigned to allow this to happen. Should I set another ID? should I change some rights somewhere? What am I missing to do admin services using KDE tools?

If there is a writeup somewhere on how to use Knoppix LiveCD's KDE for admininistering its services, I will use that.

Anything...anyone....Help

**laptopdragon** · 01-21-2010, 10:59 PM

just learn cli

you may drown with information and ability, and never use a gui again (power is cli)

here is a link, or just google search command line ...

you can login "su -" you can do anything, beware rm -

to add a user, just "adduser USERNAME " <enter>
while in root

o , and to add.
knoppix is a bit silly at times, i heard a lot of root issues, and other stuff.
for a much more simpler distro, try mandriva 2010, (hey, its all free) and you will see a completely different login/ ability system.

i think, knoppix is restricting you for some reason
you can change your permissions, and even add your login or user to group with root...

hope that helps

btw, you really joined in 2003 ??

**Capricorny** · 01-23-2010, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by GCMartin

@laptopdragon - Thank you for your post.
....
what I was hoping for is a description to use Knoppix's GUI services to add/remove a user. For starters, I cannot seem to use the Knoppix desktop KDE menu items to administer anything in the system. Its as if all admin tools are NOT allowed by anyone who boots using Knoppix LiveCD.

I can go to a terminal window. become superuser (su), and do things. BUT this does NOT allow me to use KDE menu items to do admin tasks.

I am missing something about how the "RIGHTS" are assigned to allow this to happen. Should I set another ID? should I change some rights somewhere? What am I missing to do admin services using KDE tools?

There is one good reason there is little help available on this: The consensus is that if you want a permanent install, you should rather use "pure" Debian (or some other distro).
All the conflicts with KDE, privileges etc is one reason I now only use LXDE with Knoppix. Works very well for me.

If you want to use Knoppix as an ordinary multiuser system, you should get to know the init process. Comparing Knoppix and ordinary Debian init, you will see where you have to modify Knoppix. As you can install virtually any Debian package on Knoppix, you can get all the needed tools.

**chip.ling** · 01-23-2010, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by GCMartin

@laptopdragon - Thank you for your post.

I can see some of the effort you suggest here. BUT,

what I was hoping for is a description to use Knoppix's GUI services to add/remove a user. For starters, I cannot seem to use the Knoppix desktop KDE menu items to administer anything in the system. Its as if all admin tools are NOT allowed by anyone who boots using Knoppix LiveCD.

I can go to a terminal window. become superuser (su), and do things. BUT this does NOT allow me to use KDE menu items to do admin tasks.

To answer your question:

User Knoppix cannot create new user nor user group. Your GUI session is started as user knoppix, that's why you cannot perform any activity related to that area.

So in theory, if you can logon as root in the GUI session, you should be able to do whatever you want. So check out if there any way you can logout user knoppix and relogon again as root.

One other way I think it might work. Try to boot up knoppix in text mode first. Then start xwindow as root. I never try it before and you may need to do some tests here to find out if it works or not.

This might work, boot knoppix to text mode with the following cheat code:

Code:

knoppix  3

To become root:

Code:

su

Startup the xwindow:

Code:

init  5

Keep us posted if you have any success.

Rgds,
Chip

**chip.ling** · 01-24-2010, 07:38 AM

I just did the testing using the Knoppix 6.2 CD version. I just download it.

First of all, the combination of "knoppix 3" and "init 5" does not work. It still starts up the Xwindow under the user knoppix.

However, after I did some digging, I am able to start Xwindow under root. But since the CD version does not contain KDE, it still not a 100% solution for you. But I believe it could be a good starting point.

Here is what I did:

First of all, boot from the knoppix 6.2 CD to text mode using the following cheat code:

Code:

knoppix  3

Now you are root in text mode, go to the directory /etc/init.d and edit the file knoppix-startx, I use vi

Code:

cd  /etc/init.d
vi knoppix-startx

Search for the start function in the script, you will see the following:

Code:

# Start function
start(){
 USER="knoppix"
 GROUP="knoppix"
 SESSION="lxde"

Change the script to:

Code:

# Start function
start(){
 USER="root"
 GROUP="root"
 SESSION="lxde"

Then I save the changes and exit vi

Now start the Xwindow session with the following command:

Code:

/etc/init.d/startx  start

Then you will be in Xwindow as root.

Since the CD version is missing the KDE binary, I cannot test out desktop=KDE. The following is the solution from my imagination for your case:

Change the script to:

Code:

# Start function
start(){
 USER="root"
 GROUP="root"
 SESSION="kde"
 DESKTOP="KDE"

The value "KDE" maybe in lower case, you may need to try it out yourself with difference upper case/lower case combinations between the variables SESSION and DESKTOP.

Once again, we seldom login to the GUI using root since it is very dangerous. I believe that's why knoppix and most Linux distros never have the default setting to let you use the GUI as root.

I still believe using su or sudo commands should be the way to go if you really want to be root. It is the natural language of root. If you cannot master it, you better off to be a normal user then. Well, it is just my opinion. You don't need to agree with me.

Anyway, let me know the result. I don't think I am able to download the DVD version to test it out.

Rgds,
Chip

**GCMartin** · 02-12-2010, 11:34 PM

@Chip.Ling...Thank You!

The KNOPPIX LiveCD/DVD provides many applications via its menus when you boot to its GUI desktop(s). But you cannot use them for many necessary functions.

There may be several methods to get into a Knoppix desktop to manage all of the applications that come with the system. But, this method provided by Chip is reasonable, straight-forward, and simple to understand.

I believe his help has provided an excellent starting point, for me, as I start the trek to understanding how to use these utilities to achieve those things I am used to doing when working with my Windows machine's applications. It gives anyone who follow his instructions the ability to manage the Knoppix machine he is viewing. There are many applications that are useful for those of us who want to integrate this system into the current community of PCs on my home/office network of PCs. I have several NAS units and would simply like to access, read and write to these units. Knoppix has the tools that allow access, but to use them, the “

Problem: Knoppix CD boots you to a Knoppix desktop logged in as a non-administrative user, named “knoppix”. This user lacks the ability to manage the machine he is viewing. There are many applications that are useful for those of us who want to integrate this system into the current community of PCs on my home network of PCs. I have several NAS units and would simple like to access, read and write to these units. Knoppix has the tools that allow access, but to use them, the “knoppix” does NOT have the rights to use the KDE/LXDE/GNOME applications. For example, after doing a CLI “mount” of a remote share, I cannot write from a word-processor to that NAS.

Resolution: Login as the root user to the desktop by changing Knoppix at startup to allow logon as the root user.

Following Chip.Ling's testing, here is what I did:
Boot from the knoppix 6.2 CD to text mode using the following cheat codes:

Code:

knoppix  lang=us desktop=kde 3

Now you are root user in console mode. Go to the directory /etc/init.d and edit the file knoppix-startx, I use vi

Code:

cd  /etc/init.d 
vi knoppix-startx

Search for the start function in the script, you will see the following:

Code:

# Start function 
start(){ 
 USER="knoppix" 
 GROUP="knoppix" 
 SESSION="lxde"

I used the arrow keys to get the USER-GROUP lines and Changed the script from the knoppix user to the root user as follows:

Code:

# Start function 
start(){ 
 USER="root" 
 GROUP="root" 
 SESSION="lxde"

Then I hit the ESC key to get out of Insert mode and typed “:wq” to save the changes and exit vi.

Start the Xwindow session with the following command:

Code:

/etc/init.d/startx

Then you will be in knoppix desktop as root. Now all of my utilities are working and their menu items are NOT grayed-out. I can even mount the remote NAS and immediate write to it without my need to fight with CLIs attempting to “fix” desktop usage. Everything just works now!!! ….Wow

This allows me to use a Knoppix distro with the authority necessary to use the utilities as they are designed. For me, these utilities are a must for the way I want to use my Knoppix diskless machines. I want to have a bootable CD/DVD system with all my permanent and writable files on my NAS. I want to manage my Knoppix machine just as I do my Windows machines. I fully recognize my responsibility and I accept my need to operate in a safe and secure fashion. That is my responsibility. You have really helped me!

You are the first Knoppix assistance that I have gotten where someone was NOT trying to force their position on me and really was trying to help. (Maybe this is their way of covering up their lack of knowledge or maybe its there way of exerting power by keeping the knowledge to themselves.)

I don't know any other way to express my gratitude to you for your understanding and your help. I will try to be the same polite person you have been with me when I assist others trying to grasp Linux.

Thanks loads and may the Linux Gods bless you too.

**Capricorny** · 02-13-2010, 12:21 AM

Running a graphical environment as root is generally considered dangerous practice. When you for example do that in KDE/Mandriva, you get a red background as default, to remind you of the dangers. I do it sometimes, but with Knoppix, I have been able to do everything I need either with sudo or becoming root with su in a terminal window. As "local" root, I can also run X applications with root privilieges when I need it for administrative purposes. With LXDE and 6.X, everything works fine for me that way - maybe it is otherwise with KDE. In order to limit the consequences of errors I inadvertently make all the time, I try to work with as low privilieges as possible.

The KNOPPIX LiveCD/DVD provides many applications via its menus when you boot to its GUI desktop(s). But you cannot use them for many necessary functions.

If that had been the case for me, I would certainly have tried to get the distribution setup changed. But it isn't, and I don't think many experience it. For me, there are just a few tasks I get forced to do as root. Irritating enough, but no reason for me to run X as root.

Your subject was: How CAN I add a user to Knoppix V6.2 DVD KDE boot? This solution seems to be running as root, not adding another user. I'll be interested in experiences with adding ordinary users. With the new Knoppix much closer to standard Debian, perhaps that is not so much of a problem as it has been traditionally.