[root@root ~]# adduser admin
[root@root ~]# id admin
uid=10018(admin) gid=10018(admin) groups=10018(admin)
[root@root ~]# ls -lad /home/admin/
drwx------ 2 admin admin 4096 Jun 25 16:01 /home/admin/

2. Set the password for the admin user. When prompted type and then retype the password.

[root@root ~]# passwd admin
Changing password for user admin.
New UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.
[root@root ~]#

3. SSH to the server with the new admin user and ensure that the login works.

[root@root ~]#ssh admin@my.ip.or.hostname
admin@my.ip.or.hostname's password:
[admin@admin ~]$

4. Verify that you can su (switch user) to root with the admin user.

[admin@admin ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@root ~]$ whoami
root

5. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config with your favorite text editor.

[root@root ~]# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Change this line:

#PermitRootLogin yes

to this:

PermitRootLogin no 

6. Ensure that you are logged into the box with another shell before restarting sshd to avoid locking yourself out of the server.

[root@root ~]# /etc/init.d/sshd restart
Stopping sshd: [ OK ]
Starting sshd: [ OK ]
[root@root ~]#

You will now be able to ssh into your server with the admin user and then su - to the root user.