SU password

[Johnny Rosenberg]

2008/9/4 W. D. Allen <ballensr at roadrunner.com>

> I'm new to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition. I can use my root password
> in Ubuntu desktop system administration, etc., however when I go to
> terminal and enter su my password fails.
>
> Been trying to use 'recovery mode' to fix problem but can not locate it
> on CD.
>
> Any guidance would be gratefully accepted.
>  <https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users>

You are not supposed to use su in Ubuntu. The "proper" way to go is sudo.
With sudo you have all rights for one command only, like:
sudo copy myfile.virus /boot/
You will then be asked for your password and then the command (cp in this
case) is performed.
If you want to do something else as root within a few minutes, you don't
need to enter your password again, just:
sudo another_command other_parameters
(No password is required this time)
If you wait for some minutes, I think it's 15, and then try sudo, sudo will
ask for your password again.
sudo command1 -options file1 file2 # You will be asked for your password.
The command will be executed as root.
command2 -options file3 file4 # This command will be executed as user (if
that's your user name).
sudo command3 -options file5 # This command will be executed as root, but no
password is required.
# Now wait for 20 minutes
sudo command4 -options file6 file7 # This command will be performed as root
and your password is required again.
If you want to use su anyway, try:
sudo su
I hope this helps.
J.R.
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