how to check if the user is an administrator for Linux server

[ashley75]

This question is too easy for the gurus in here but I am new with Linux, can you please tell me how to check to see if the user is an administrator on the box??? If not,m how to add he or she as an administrator

thanks

 

[Norwich]

Generally, there is one superuser account - "root". To get administration rights, a user will "su" (supertuser) to change from the current user to run a bew shell as "root". Exiting when done.

 

[ashley75]

Thanks for your quick response.

I am new with Linux and I am confused when you say:

To get administration rights, a user will "su" (supertuser) to change from the current user to run a bew shell as "root". Exiting when done.

I CAN SU - AND LOG IN AS ROOT AND WHAT DO I DO NEXT ????

PLEASE ADVISE

 

[smah]

Anything you want - 'root' is the administrator that you were looking for.

 

[ashley75]

no

what I need is to create a user and that use has to be administrator

 

[danielhozac]

That isn't possible in UNIX like systems. Only one user can be the [tt]root[/tt] user, which is the administrator. //Daniel

 

[Norwich]

to create a user, use the adduser command. Alternatively, if you run a gui, there's probably a tool to use dependin g upon which distribution you use.

 

[smah]

don't let a regular user log on as root. Root should only be used for administrative tasks then exit out to return to a regular user.

 

[marsd]

I'm seeing some very bad advice here tonight.
Please make sure that you have a firm understanding
*nix sysadmin procedures before advising someone
that they can or cannot do something.

ashley..
If you would like to have users perform some
tasks as a root user sudo is the utility you
want.
If you would like to have a group of users have
certain abilities as root, once again sudo is the
facility you want. Traditionally the "wheel" group
is used for this, but you may want to use your own
scheme.
Try man sudoers.

 

[smah]

What's the bad advice?
su to become root
only one user can be root
to create a user, use the adduser command
don't let a regular user log on as root