su

Switch user ID (UNIX)

Syntax:

su [-c] [[-] userid [arguments]]

Options:

-c

Pass the specified list of arguments to the shell.

userid

Switch to the specified user ID. If preceeded by the - argument, userid's login scripts will run, setting up the shell environment as if you had actually logged in as the specified user.

Description:

The su utility lets you temporarily become another user, then return to your regular userid.

The su utility requests the password of the given userid (root, by default) and changes to that userid, invoking its shell but modifying only essential elements of the environment. Only the HOME, PATH, and possibly SHELL environment variables are changed, but the new shell has the rights and privileges of the user specified. The new userid remains in effect until this shell exits.

Files:

/bin/sh

Korn shell command interpreter.

/dev/null

The bit bucket.

/etc/.pwlock

This file is used to lock password files when modifications are taking place.

/etc/acclog

Logs system accounting information.

/etc/default/profile

The passwd utility copies this file as a user's initial .profile when it creates a new account.

/etc/group

Defines the known groups for the system.

/etc/passwd

Defines the valid user IDs on the system.

/etc/shadow

Contains encoded versions of the actual passwords for user accounts. The passwords themselves aren't stored in the /etc/passwd file.

/usr/adm/sulog

Records all su activity.

See also:

login, passwd

Logging In, Logging Out, and Shutting Down in the Neutrino User's Guide