RHEL Linux - Red Hat System Administration Practice Exam

What command allows a user to be permitted to run a command as root, or as another user?

1. force

2. superuser

3. sudo

4. passwd

The correct answer is: sudo

The command that allows a user to execute a command as the root user or as another specified user is "sudo." This utility is essential in Linux and UNIX-based systems for managing user permissions and enhancing security. When a user runs a command with "sudo," the operating system checks the user's permissions against the configuration specified in the "/etc/sudoers" file. If the user has the necessary privileges, the command is executed with elevated permissions. This means that "sudo" allows for controlled access to root functionality without giving the user full root access at all times. Instead of logging in as the root user—which can be risky—users can elevate their privileges temporarily for specific tasks, promoting better security practices. Using "sudo" also logs all commands executed, which is useful for auditing and tracking user activity on the system. This is particularly important in multi-user environments where accountability is necessary. The other choices listed do not provide the same functionality. "force" and "passwd" relate to different system operations, such as managing user accounts or password changes, while "superuser" is a general term used to refer to the root user but does not represent a command.