Tutorials 
Adding the >Console User... Your UNIX Friend In Mac OS X
By Christian Pickman, Contributing Editor
Ever wanted to gain access to the UNIX command line without having to login into
your user account? Sure you could start single user mode at startup, however,
you are limited to what commands you can do. Luckily, Mac OS X makes it easy for
you to login into the UNIX command line directly from the Login Window. Here are
the steps that you should follow to add a console user (for UNIX command access)
to Mac OS X:
Logged in as an Admin user, select System Preferences from the Apple Menu:
Now click on Users within System Preferences:
From the Users preference, select the "New User..." button.
After clicking on the New User button, type in ">console" in the Name field and
then tab down to the Short Name field which should be automatically filled in
with the name of "console." There is no need to go to the Password tab since you
will be asked for a username and password after selecting >console from the
Login window. If you desire, change the Login Picture to your liking. After you
have completed, click on the Save button.
Now you should have a >console user among other users in User Preferences.
If you have not already, go ahead and quit System Preferences and select "Log
Out..." from the Apple Menu.
You will now be asked if you want to log out, click on the Log Out button.
After selecting the Log Out button, you will be logged out and then the Login
Window will be displayed. Now click on the >console user and you will be
automatically placed into the UNIX command line for a username and password.
For most users, this is just another hidden feature that Mac OS X has to offer
and is not something that the first time Mac OS X user does not need to setup.
However, if you are a moderate to experienced UNIX user, then you will enjoy the
power and convenience of the UNIX command line via the >console user.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to e-mail: christian_pickman@osxfaq.com
|
