"As we set off, on our left you'll notice a directory called
/root. This is a little confusing: it isn't the root directory,
it's just a directory called root. It's actually the private
property of the system administrator. In fact, it's the
super-user's home directory.
"I have an uncle who's the system administrator of a Solaris
system, and he's always complaining that he doesn't have a private
home directory. His home directory is /, and he hates it. How would
you like to have to hang your washing out to dry in the town
square? Can we take a look in /root, Hal? Oh, apparently not -
Colonel Linux says no. Well, there's no harm in asking, but /root
is one of the few directories for which ordinary users don't have
read permission.
"Generally speaking, Linux permissions implement a 'look but
don't touch' policy. The main exception is in a user's home
directory, where they can do whatever they want."
