====== Ubuntu - Users - Use root account ======

The root Account in Ubuntu is disabled by default because its password is not set.

To use root priviledges, basically it's better to use the **sudo** command with administrative accounts.

But if you'd like to use root Account itself by some reason, it's possible to use like follows.

----

===== Use sudo interactive mode =====

<code bash>
sudo -i
</code>

Enter your password, and you will switch into privileged mode.

----

===== Switch to the sudo account =====

The user account added during installation is setup as an administrative account with sudo.

You can switch to root account's shell:

<code bash>
sudo -s
</code>

Enter your password, and you will switch into privileged mode.

----

===== Set the root account password =====

<WRAP alert>
**ALERT:**  This is NOT recommended.
</WRAP>


<code bash>
sudo passwd root
</code>

----

===== Use su =====

<WRAP alert>
**ALERT:**  This is NOT recommended.
</WRAP>

<code bash>
su -
</code>


----

==== su command restriction ====

It is recommended to restrict which users can su to root.

<code bash>
sudo vi /etc/pam.d/su
</code>

Edit #line 15: Uncomment and add a group which is allowed to run the **su** command

<file bash /etc/pam.d/su>
...
auth       required   pam_wheel.so  group=adm
...
</file>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:** The **pam_wheel** PAM module is used to enforce the so-called wheel group.

By default it permits root access to the system if the applicant user is a member of the wheel group.
</WRAP>

Add users to this group, who are allowed to issue the **su** command.

<code bash>
usermod -G adm john
</code>