Sudo

sudo is a program for Unix-like computer operating systems that allows users to run programs with the security privileges of another user, by default the superuser.

Description

The name is a contraction of "do as su" where "su" is an abbreviation for "super user."

Unlike the related command su, users must supply their own password for authentication, rather than the password of the target user.

After authentication

After authentication, and if the configuration file, which is typically located at /etc/sudoers, permits the user access, the system invokes the requested command.

Configuration

The configuration file offers detailed access permissions:

• Including enabling commands only from the invoking terminal
• Requiring a password per user or group
• Requiring re-entry of a password every time or never requiring a password at all for a particular command line

Sudo can be configured to permit passing arguments or multiple commands.

See also

• Linux
• Unix

External links

• sudo @ Wikipedia