Which of these commands will create a new shell logged in as the root user?

Which of these commands will create a new shell logged in as the root user?

• sudo
• su

For more questions and answers go to the below link:

Linux Unhatched Assignments Assessment Exam Answers

The command that will create a new shell logged in as the root user is:

su

Explanation of su

What Does su Do?

• The su command stands for “substitute user” or “switch user”.
• By default, running su without specifying a username switches the current session to the root user and opens a new shell.
• To access the root shell, you will be prompted to enter the root password.

Key Details:

• A new shell environment is created as the root user.
• The user remains logged in as root until they type exit or close the shell.
• If you specify another username (e.g., su username), it switches to that user’s account instead.

Example:

su

• Prompts for the root password and logs you into a new root shell.

Explanation of sudo

What Does sudo Do?

• The sudo command stands for “superuser do”.
• It allows a non-root user to execute a single command with root privileges without creating a new shell.
• Unlike su, it doesn’t switch the user or open a new shell; instead, it temporarily grants administrative privileges for the command being run.

Key Details:

• Does not open a new shell; it only executes the specified command with elevated privileges.
• Prompts for the password of the current user, not the root password (as long as the user is in the sudoers file).

Example:

sudo apt-get update

• Executes the apt-get update command with root privileges but doesn’t log you into a root shell.

Key Differences Between su and sudo

Which Command Should You Use?

• Use su:
  • When you need to work in a root shell for an extended period.
  • When managing systems where sudo is not configured or enabled.
  • If you have access to the root password.
• Use sudo:
  • When you want to execute individual administrative tasks without fully switching to the root user.
  • When working on systems where root login is disabled for security reasons (common in modern Linux systems).

Summary

• su will create a new shell logged in as the root user.
• sudo executes a single command with root privileges but does not create a new shell.