Guys, I have the free versions no commercial versions and all are setup by default. The path locations are used by default. I am not an advance user so I stick with the defaults. That way I can easily get help and suggestions online. I am sure after using the software for 10 years. I will build confidence enough where I could config and change stuff myself. However, for now I stick with the defaults. I am worried for changing the passwords because I did this when I first created my first server. I was using FreeBSD 8.1 fort he first time. I changed the root password first and did a reboot. Once I did the reboot I got nothing but permission errors. I asked online for help and most told me that I needed to first change permissions from all software used before making the change. So, pretty much was told that I locked myself out and now don't have a bootable machine. I was told needed to reinstall the OS. I ended up doing this and lost a lot of files since I didn't back anything up. That was my first lesson to have a external hard drive. I reinstalled the OS and this time ordered a external hard drive to now backup my stuff. Anyway's, I am now worried because the passwords I used was more secure then the original passwords. However, I got a hacker on my butt and I need to now make the password very complex. However, I fear I will do the same thing and my external hard drives are all filled. I don't know if it's worth to buy another external drive and just do a backup on important files. Or do most think I can't really mess it up again?
What should I look out for? Should I first change MySQL and other server software passwords first?
When I installed these server software they used the defaults. They created usernames and groups in FreeBSD and must have created the passwords.
I just need some suggestions on what to do before changing the passwords? I don't want to run into any permission issues.
I personally think that changing the passwords would automatically update all the files that require that user. I know for MySQL I did create users. It grabbed the root user info. In webmin under MySQL there's an option where it says "The options below configure synchronization between Unix users created through Webmin and MySQL users."
There's three check boxes: add a new user when a new FreeBSD user is added.
the next one is update the MySQL user when a matching FreeBSD user has been modified.
the next one is delete a MySQL user when a FreeBSD user has been deleted.
I am thinking I can setup MySQL to sync up with FreeBSD users. So, if I change FreeBSD user passwords it will automatically update.
I just want to be sure that if I make changes to the password on FreeBSD on the root user. I won't be locked up when using the shell/ command prompt... like having permission issues.
I think my past experienced had more issues.. maybe I ran a command that changed critical files permissions which caused it. I am just making the assumption. Since, back the I had no clue how to manage a FreeBSD computer and years after learned a lot.
I am thinking to go to webmin and make the changes to server software password for root user. I then will change the root user password for FreeBSD and do a reboot. If all goes well. I will then change my own user account in the same way.
Do you think that's a good idea? Webmin does a lot of the automation. It looks for every server software it supports. They have a way to sync the users up with the FreeBSD users.