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From an existing Linux session, use su - to request a root login shell, or sudo -i if your account’s sudo policy allows it. For a single elevated command, use sudo command instead. These methods are subject to your distribution’s account, authentication and administrator policies; remote SSH root access is controlled separately.
Choose the right way to get root access
| What you need | Command or setting | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| A root login shell from an existing session | su - |
Requests a login-style shell as root, using the system’s configured authentication policy. |
| A root login shell through sudo | sudo -i |
Asks sudo to start a login shell as root, if policy authorizes you. |
| One command with elevated privileges | sudo command |
Runs the specified command as root or another permitted user, subject to sudo policy. |
| A login shell as another named user | su - username |
Requests a login shell for the named account. |
| Root access over SSH | PermitRootLogin |
Controls whether and how root can authenticate to the SSH server. |
Use an interactive root shell only when you need one. For a discrete task, a single sudo command usually keeps the privileged action more clearly scoped. The right route depends on whether you are already signed in, whether you need a shell or one command, and which access rules the administrator has set.
Open a root login shell with su -
- At a terminal in your existing session, run
su -. - Respond to the authentication prompt according to your system’s policy. It may require the root account’s password, but local PAM configuration and account policy determine what is required.
- When finished, type
exitor pressCtrl+Dto leave the root shell.
In the cited util-linux manual, su with no target user defaults to an interactive shell as root. The hyphen is the login option; su --login is the longer equivalent. Login mode clears most environment variables, initializes common account values such as HOME, SHELL, USER, LOGNAME and PATH, changes to the target user’s home directory and marks the shell as a login shell. PAM may further affect the environment. The manual recommends login mode to avoid side effects from mixing environments. Read the util-linux su(1) manual.
By contrast, plain su uses backward-compatible behavior that does not change the working directory and adjusts only some environment values before PAM processing. Details vary with the installed implementation and local configuration, so check the host’s su(1) manual.
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Start a root login shell with sudo -i
- Run
sudo -iin your terminal. - If prompted, enter the credentials required by your sudo policy. When sudoers authentication is enabled, sudo normally checks the invoking user’s credentials—not root’s.
- Run the needed administrative commands, then type
exitor pressCtrl+Dto return to your original shell.
Sudo runs commands as the superuser or another user only when the applicable security policy permits it. Whether you can use sudo -i, which credentials are checked and whether authentication is required depend on the system’s sudo policy. See the sudo(8) manual and sudoers(5).
Use sudo for one elevated command
For a task that does not require an interactive root shell, prefix the command with sudo, for example sudo command. The command must be permitted by the host’s sudo policy. This is distinct from opening a shell: the sudo manual says it normally logs the command it explicitly runs, while later commands typed inside a shell launched with sudo su or sudo sh are not subject to sudo’s security policy. A persistent privileged shell therefore creates a broader privilege and audit boundary. The sudo manual explains this security consideration.
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Switch to another named account
To request a login shell for a different account, use su - username, replacing username with the account name. The command’s authentication and environment behavior depend on the installed su implementation, PAM and local account policy. Consult the util-linux manual or, on systems using it, the shadow-utils su(1) manual.
Root login over SSH is a separate policy
Being able to obtain a local root shell does not mean you can sign in remotely as root. The SSH server’s PermitRootLogin setting governs root login. In the cited OpenSSH manual, its documented values are:
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yes: permits root login, subject to other authentication and server rules.prohibit-password: the documented default in that manual; disables password and keyboard-interactive authentication for root.forced-commands-only: permits root public-key login only when a command option has been specified.no: disallows root login.
The effective behavior depends on the server’s installed OpenSSH version and configuration, including host-specific files and matching rules. Check the server’s effective configuration and its installed sshd_config(5) manual rather than assuming the documented default applies to the running host. Read the OpenSSH sshd_config manual.
If the command does not work
su -rejects authentication: The account or PAM policy may not permit the requested switch, or the credential entered may not match what the policy requires. The password requirement is not universal.sudo -isays you are not allowed: Your account may not be authorized for root access under the configured sudo policy. Only an administrator can grant or change that access.- SSH root login fails: The server may disable root login or disallow the authentication method you are using. Check
PermitRootLoginand the effective server configuration. - Your environment or working directory differs:
su -requests login-style environment handling; plainsudoes not. PAM and distribution-specific configuration can also affect the result.
Because the Linux distribution, account state, console or remote access path, and local PAM, sudo and SSH settings are unspecified, no single command or password requirement can be guaranteed to work on every host.
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