The Linux Newbie Guide - sudo Command

The Linux Newbie Guide

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Fundamentals

sudo - Change Identity and Execute Commands

The sudo (substitute user do) command allows you to change your identity to another user, typically the root user, and execute specified commands. It's commonly used for running commands with root privileges without needing the root password.

The basic syntax of the sudo command is: sudo [OPTIONS] COMMAND .

Some common options for the sudo command include:

-v: Display detailed information about the sudo command's execution.
-l: List the commands that you are allowed to execute using sudo.
-k: Clear the sudo command's history.
-b: Run the command in the background.
-u: Execute the command as the specified user.

Example:

$ sudo -l ←List the commands that can be executed with sudo (requires relevant settings in the /etc/sudoers file to display)
User zlata may run the following commands on localhost:
(root) /sbin/shutdown, /bin/updatedb
$ sudo -b updatedb ← Run the 'updatedb' command in the background using sudo

For more information about how sudo works, additional examples, and details about the "/etc/sudoers" configuration file, please refer to the provided link.