Q. How do I login as superuser / root user in a Linux operating systems?
A. The superuser, or root, is a special user account used for system administration.
Linux superuser
In Linux and Unix like computer operating systems, root is the conventional name of the user who has all rights or permissions (to all files and programs) in all modes (single- or multi-user).
The root user can do many things an ordinary user cannot, such as changing the ownership of files and binding to ports numbered below 1024. The etymology of the term may be that root is the only user account with permission to modify the root directory of a Unix system.
Superuser login - How to become Superuser in Linux
Under Linux (and other Unixish oses) you use command called su. It is used is used to become another user during a login session or to login as super user. If Invoked without a username, su defaults to becoming the super user. It is highly recommend that you use argument - to su command. It is used to provide an environment similar to what the user root would expect had the user logged in directly. Type su command as follows:
$ su -Output:
Password: <TYPE ROOT PASSWORD> #
Once you typed the root user password, you become super or root user.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
i like to learning more about linux
It is interesting to notice how easy it is to find this information on the web, how to login as a superuser, and how it is difficult to find the information about how to log OUT of superuser (exit). Wouldn’t it make sense to put these things together ? I guess that someone who just learnt how to log in as a superuser would also immediately need to know how to log out.
And by the way, your answer after “A” doesn’t answer the questions “Q” at the beginning of the article.
Hey, i tried this but my linux said:
Error with approval ( think thats how you translate it..
its bothering me alot and i tripple checked the password it is correct
what version of lunux are you using? if you are using any ubuntu based linux for example you, you can only use the super user to run comands, you cant stay loged in as the super user.
Ex: to install an aplication, you would opne a terminal and enter
sudo apt-get install name_of_application.
the sudo or su comand will indicate to linux that you are trying to run the comand as the super user or administrator, but in ubuntu after the application is done installing it will go back to regular user to aboid any security breach. y have to realize that the when you are in super user mode it can be verry danguros becasue bc you can do anything, like deleting all you files and messing up your operating system.
so in conclution you get that message because your linux you might not be running any other comands after the sudo or su comand.
i hope that made sense.
i am grave trouble i forgot ma superuser password hw to recover it