-bash: sudo: command not found Error and Solution

I'm typing the following command:

But, getting the error:

How do I fix this problem under Debian / Ubuntu / RHEL / CentOS Linux?

This error means the sudo command is not installed. The sudo command allows a permitted user to execute a command as the superuser or another user, as specified in the sudoers file.

Step #1: Become a root user

Use su - command as follows:
$ su -
When prompted you need to type the root user's password.

Step #2: Install sudo tool under Linux

If you are using Debian or Ubuntu Linux, enter:
# apt-get install sudo
Sample outputs:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  sudo
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 610 kB of archives.
After this operation, 983 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates/main sudo amd64 1.7.4p4-2.squeeze.3 [610 kB]
Fetched 610 kB in 4s (132 kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package sudo.
(Reading database ... 30838 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking sudo (from .../sudo_1.7.4p4-2.squeeze.3_amd64.deb) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up sudo (1.7.4p4-2.squeeze.3) ...
No /etc/sudoers found... creating one for you.

If you are using RHEL / CentOS / Fedora / Scientific Linux, enter:
# yum install sudo
Sample outputs:

Loaded plugins: product-id, protectbase, rhnplugin, subscription-manager
Updating certificate-based repositories.
Unable to read consumer identity
0 packages excluded due to repository protections
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package sudo.x86_64 0:1.7.4p5-12.el6_3 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
====================================================================================================
 Package        Arch             Version                       Repository                      Size
====================================================================================================
Installing:
 sudo           x86_64           1.7.4p5-12.el6_3              rhel-x86_64-server-6           423 k
Transaction Summary
====================================================================================================
Install       1 Package(s)
Total download size: 423 k
Installed size: 0
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
sudo-1.7.4p5-12.el6_3.x86_64.rpm                                             | 423 kB     00:00
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing : sudo-1.7.4p5-12.el6_3.x86_64                                                     1/1
Installed products updated.
  Verifying  : sudo-1.7.4p5-12.el6_3.x86_64                                                     1/1
Installed:
  sudo.x86_64 0:1.7.4p5-12.el6_3
Complete!

Step #3: Add admin user to /etc/sudoers

You need to add yourself to /etc/sudoers file, enter:
# visudo
Grant vivek user full permission via sudo:

vivek   ALL=(ALL) ALL

Save and close the file.

How do I use sudo?

To become a root user and start root shell, enter:
$ sudo -i
OR
$ sudo -s
To run a command called '/sbin/service httpd restart', enter:
$ sudo /sbin/service httpd restart
To reload squid proxy server, enter:
$ sudo /usr/sbin/squid3 -k reconfigure
Sample outputs:

 
We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System
Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:
 
    #1) Respect the privacy of others.
    #2) Think before you type.
    #3) With great power comes great responsibility.
 
[sudo] password for vivek: