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Personal System Administration Guide


Chapter 2
Setting Up a New System


Setting Up System Basics

Welcome to your new system. Once you create a user login account for yourself and set up networking software, your system has the basic information it needs to create a personal work area for you and to let you communicate with other systems and people on your network.

When you create a login account using the System Setup tool, you become the Primary User (the person whose picture is associated with this system) and you are given administrative privileges to set up user login accounts for other people and set up new peripherals (this makes you a Privileged User). For more information, see "About User Privileges and the Primary User".

Note: If you're not sure who the Primary User will be, make yourself the Primary User for now so you can set up the system. You can use the User Manager later to create permanent login accounts and to assign a different Primary User.

If you plan to connect to an existing network, contact your network administrator for a login name for yourself, a hostname and IP address for your system, and the IP address of another system on the network that has a master list of all systems on the network. If your network runs NIS, also request your NIS domain name.

To set up the basics, follow these steps:

    Set up a user login account for yourself by typing a shorter version of your name (for example, your first name or initials) in the field labeled Your login name, then typing your full name in the field labeled Your full name.

    The login name you select can be up to eight characters in length, and should consist of all lower case characters.

    If your system is already physically connected to a network, click the box next to Set up basic networking, then go on to step 3.

    If your system is not connected to a network, skip to step 4.

    Enter the network information that your network administrator provided.


    Have the system set up software using the information you provided.


    Respond to any notifiers that appear.


    When you see the login screen, double-click the icon that's labeled with your login name to log in to your new account.

Once you're logged in, you may also want to:


Choosing Between a Network and Standalone Access Account

When your system and network use the optional NIS software, the network administrator maintains a master list of all users on the network and their account information. If you see a notifier asking whether you want a Network or Standalone access account, it means that your system has located your account information in the master list.

When you create a Network Access account, your system always finds your account information in the master list which resides on a different system (the NIS master). This means you will be able to log into your account on your system only when your system is connected to the network, and the NIS master system is up and running.

When you create a Standalone Access account, your system finds your account information on your own system. This means you can log in to the system regardless of whether it's connected to the network.

For more information, see "About User Login Accounts on the Network."


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