Setting steam and desktop user passwords

Table of Contents generated with DocToc

• About
• Desktop mode
• Locating gnome-terminal
• Set the desktop password
• Set the steam passwd

About

In order to use elevated privileges requiring use of "sudo," the desktop users password must be set. Additionally, performing actions as the "steam" user requires a password to be set in order to use su - (switching to the home environment of user: steam). All actions must be performed from a terminal window.

Desktop mode

This can be enabled in Steam > Settings > Display > Interface

After enabling desktop mode the Exit button will have an additional option, "Return to Desktop" that will switch to the SteamOS desktop.

Locating gnome-terminal

This is located by either:

1. Clicking "Activities" (top left) in desktop mode, and typing gnome-terminal
2. Navigating to /usr/share/applications in a file browser and opening "Terminal"

There is a bug in brewmaster where the gnome-terminal will not start. If you encounter this bug you should use an alternative terminal program, you can invoke xterm by entering Alt+F2 and typing xterm.

Set the desktop password

passwd

Set the steam passwd

sudo passwd steam