Giving a user (not a root) an access to some system commands

asschay · 09-08-2005, 02:42 AM

Hi,

I need to set up a user, say test, in a group that have access to some of the administration that can only be done if I log in as a root.

I need to give the user test an access to reboot, shutdown, and kill some running processes.

I tried making a new user and make 'uucp' as its primary group, but that doesn't work, I also tried making it as root group, but that still gives me no joy.

Is this task even possible at all for a user that's not a super user like root??

Thank you so much

Aw.

teebones · 09-08-2005, 02:55 AM

hello,

You could use "sudo" for this.

asschay · 09-08-2005, 10:49 AM

won't i need to supply the user with root/superuser passwor with command sudo?

I am trying to give limited access to the user but now the user can't even shutdown or reboot anymore..

Aw.

tuxrules · 09-08-2005, 11:09 AM

You would have to make specific entries (what specific commands you want which user to be able to control) in sudo configuration using visudo command. visudo is kinda special vi editor for sudo utility.

# visudo

Please read the sudo tutorial or how-tos on the net...also man sudo for more info.

And yes, you would not have to give superuser password once you set sudo. After setup, you can simply say

$ sudo shutdown -h now

as a regular user.

Tux,

asschay · 09-08-2005, 01:21 PM

aaah....
now I got it

last question though, is there a way to execute that reboot or shutdown commands, as a user, without typing up the 'sudo'. Make those commands to know that sudo is needed before executing them.

Thank you so much, I appreciate your help

Aw.

XavierP · 09-08-2005, 01:35 PM

You could look into "alias", making shutdown -h now and alias for sudo shutdown -h now. Not sure how this would work and could potentially screw with the command for everyone.

If you have a test box, try it out.

fiservguy · 09-08-2005, 03:06 PM

You could use a non-Linux keyword for the alias. For instance,

alias reboot="shutdown -h now"

XavierP · 09-08-2005, 05:06 PM

Except "reboot" is a command. I'd use "alias down="sudo shutdown -n now""

asschay · 09-08-2005, 05:53 PM

Hi guys,

Solution to my own questions:

editing the file '/etc/sudoers', give the user name access to certain commands, and making alias for those commands, so sudo is not needed.

and giving alias to reboot and shutdown doesn't screw anything for me

Thank you guyss..

Aw.