su to root works sudo doesn't

magnum81 · 04-22-2006, 09:00 PM

When I run "su" and enter the password I get access to a root terminal, but I can't "sudo" a command using the same password that I used to "su". So I su'ed to root and "passwd root" and entered a new username and password, then exited the su'ed session, but "sudo" still doesn't work. I have ubuntu.

gilead · 04-22-2006, 09:05 PM

When you use su you enter the password for the user that you're switching to (in this case root). When you use sudo you enter your own user account's password.

I'm assuming that /etc/sudoers is already set up...

Tinkster · 04-22-2006, 09:06 PM

You're not supposed to enter roots password but your own.
Otherwise it would defeat the whole purpose of sudo.

Cheers,
Tink

magnum81 · 04-22-2006, 09:12 PM

Thanks, that worked. I guess I didn't understand how sudo works.

Tinkster · 04-22-2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnum81

Thanks, that worked. I guess I didn't understand how sudo works.

The purpose of sudo is to give a user the right
to do certain of roots tasks without having
to know roots password. The fact that it prompts
you for your password is another security measure,
assuming that occasionally a user with elevated
rights may forget to lock their screen/terminal
and someone else may exploit that. If you know
for sure that no one will be able to do naughty
things from your account you can add a
NOPASSWD: for yourself ...

Cheers,
Tink