sudo (superuser do) is a program in Unix, Linux, and similiar operating systems such as Mac OS X that allows users to run programs in the guise of another user (normally in the guise of the system's superuser).

The file /etc/sudoers usually controls access to sudo and limits who can run which programs with it. That file lists each user who can run sudo, along with the programs they can run. Configurable defaults and options for the program also appear in /etc/sudoers.

By default and as a security measure, users who invoke sudo must supply their own password before running the target program. Once authentication has taken place, the system updates a timestamp and the user may then use sudo without a password for a short period of time (five minutes unless overridden in /etc/sudoers).

See also

• su

External links

• sudo homepage
• a logging root shell