Regular users can be added to the sudoers list on Linux systems to gain administrative access. This enables them to run system commands with root access without having to share the root password. In this article, I’ll show you How to Add Users to Sudoers in Linux step by step procedures.
Prerequisites
- A system running an Ubuntu supported version
- Access to a root user account or another account with sudo permissions
- Terminal window/command line access (Ctrl-Alt-T)
What is Sudoers File
The sudoers file is critical in Unix-based operating systems such as Ubuntu because it determines whether users or groups have authorization to use the sudo command to conduct privileged operations. It is placed at ‘/etc/sudoers’ and consists of a set of rules that govern the commands that users can perform as well as their level of access.
In Linux, people can be granted access to the sudoers file via manual editing or by using the usermod command, with both methods serving the goal adequately. The latter approach is frequently regarded as cleaner and more recommended.
Steps to Create a New sudo user in Linux
Follow these procedures to create a new user named “bob” and add them to the sudoers list:
Step1 : Log in as root or a user with sudo privileges.
Step2 : Launch a terminal.
Step3 : To create the new user, execute the following command:
sudo adduser bob
This command will question you for additional information about the new user. You can enter the required data, such as a password, complete name, phone number, and other optional entries.
Enter to skip any fields you want to leave empty.
cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:~$ sudo adduser bob Adding user ‘bob’ … Adding new group ‘bob’ (1002) Adding new user ‘bob’ (1001) with group ‘bob’ … Creating home directory ‘/home/bob’ … Copying files from ‘/etc/skel’ … Enter new UNIX password Retype new UNIX password: passwd: password updated successfully changing the user information for bob Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default Full Name []: New User Room Number [] work Phone [ Home Phone [ other []: Is the information correct? [¥/n] y cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:~$
Once you have completed these steps, the new user account will be created, along with a corresponding group and home directory for that user. The user can now log in to the system using their username and password.
Add User into Sudo Group
Using the usermod command, you can add an existing user, such as “bob,” to the sudo group.
To add “bob” to the sudo group, use the following command:
sudo usermod -aG sudo bob
The -a flag add users to the specified group, and the -G flag specifies the group, which in this case is “sudo.”
After running the script, use the groups command to see if the user “bob” was successfully added to the sudo group.
Here’s how to use it:
groups bob output cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:~$ sudo usermod -aG sudo bob [sudo] password for cloudbooklet: cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:~$ cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:~S groups bob bob : bob sudo cloudbooklet@cloudbooklet:
Alternative Command
To add the user “bob” directly to the sudoers file, use the adduser command as follows:
- Log in as root or a user with sudo privileges.
- Launch a terminal.
- To add the user “bob” and provide them sudo rights, run the following command:
sudo adduser bob sudo
- During the user creation process, this command adds the user “bob” to the sudo group.
- When prompted, enter a password for the new user and any other information requested.After you finish these steps, the user “bob” will gain sudo capabilities and will be able to run commands with elevated permissions using the sudo command.
- When using sudo, they must input their own password to authenticate themselves.
- Using the adduser command with the sudo parameter streamlines the procedure by add user to the sudo group and granting them administrative privileges.
- Replace “bob” with the username you want to add to the sudoers list.
Also read: For a more comprehensive overview of Add and Remove Users refer to our guide How to Add and Remove Users in Linux
Benefits of Adding Users to the sudoers File
Conclusion
To summarize, add users to the sudoers list in Linux is critical for securely providing administrative access. Administrators of systems can assure controlled access to important commands and a robust security architecture by following the proper instructions and configurations. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
How to Add Users to Sudoers in Linux