When using Linux, special privileges (often abbreviated as "privs") are required to install software or modify system files. These privileges are often called "root" or "superuser" privileges, named after the username of the administrator account, root. You should have been prompted to supply a password for the root account while installing Linux.

Note

1. It is dangerous to use the root account for your every day activities, as you may inadvertently damage your system. It is strongly recommended that you create a normal-user account for your daily activities, and only use superuser privileges when absolutely necessary.
2. If you are remotely connecting to your computer over a network, always use ssh to connect instead of telnet . When using SSH, any data sent over the network (including your password) is encrypted, making it extremely difficult for anyone to monitor your network activity. When using telnet, all data is sent without encryption, thus allowing anyone monitoring network traffic to see your username and password.

Several different options exist to acquire superuser privileges. The most basic way is to log on using the root username, and the password you supplied for it during installation. You can also use the su command to get a root shell. Both of these methods require the root password in order to be used.

The best way to acquire superuser privileges is to prefix the sudo command before any commands which require superuser privileges. The sudo command will prompt you for your normal user account's password, rather than the root account. Another benefit of the sudo command is that it records a log of all its activity. To view the log of activity performed with the sudo command, click on the UB Logo and select System Logs from the System Tools menu. You will be prompted for the root account password. Click on the Security Log in the left-hand pane to view sudo activity.

Before you can use sudo for the first time, it requires a small, one-time setup. First, acquire superuser privileges by either logging in using the root account or using the su command. Open the /etc/sudoers file in your text editor of choice, and add this line:

username
     ALL=(ALL) ALL

username is your normal user account on your Linux machine. You will now be able to use the sudo command. For full details on the sudo command, you may wish to read the sudo manual page by typing man sudo at a command prompt.

NOTE: While using the Gnome GUI in Linux, you may be occasionally prompted for a password if you attempt to install software by double-clicking on an RPM package file, or if you attempt to make system configuration changes through the GUI. In this case, enter the root password, not the password for your normal user account.