As a new user, I installed Fossil on a remote Linux server, created a repository, and ran 'fossil server' using my repository. Then I ran the browser on my Windows PC. Not knowing any better, I logged in as anonymous. I tried to configure my repository as documented on the Quickstart page, but the Setup link was not available on the menu bar.

I made a significant but not exhaustive search through the online documentation, but did not find anything helpful. Eventually it occurred to me to run SQLite to see what was in the database, and from there I found that a user had been created with the name of the Linux account from which I created the repository. This account had a blank password, but I could not log in with a blank password. I used SQLite to change the password and then I could log in as that user. Since that user had the Setup privilege, I could now use all the features in the system.

A person running into this difficulty might abandon further exploration in the project and never return. In addition to prominently documenting the default accounts and passwords, I think the default Setup account should start with a non-blank password.