debian 8.1.0 jessie - sudo fix (not installed by default)

WinstonSmithWinstonSmith
edited July 2016 in VPN Setup Support

Debian seems to not have sudo installed by default. 
Here is how to install sudo and add your username to the sudoers file.
=============================================

Color Key
=============================================
Things highlighted in yellow are commands to be executed in the terminal
Things highlighted in blue are to be clicked
Things highlighted in green are to be typed
Things highlighted in violet are to be pressed on the keyboard
Things highlighted in grey are showing output


Open the Terminal
    - Click "Activities"
    - Click in the "Type to search..." box
    - Type in "Terminal" and press the [enter] key

Switch to root user
    - Type in the Terminal the following command
        su
    - then press [enter]
    - now type in the root password and press [enter]
        - The command prompt should now look like this...
            [email protected]:/home/yourusernamehere#
    
Install "sudo"
    - Now that you are root user within the Terminal lets install "sudo"
    - Type in the following command...
        apt-get install sudo
    - then press [enter]

Add your username to the sudo group
    - Type in the following command...
        adduser yourusernamehere sudo
    - then press [enter]
    
Now add your name to /etc/sudoers file
    - Type in the following command...
        nano /etc/sudoers
    - then press [enter]
    - Scroll down and look for the line "%sudo  ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL"
    - Below that line type in the following...
        yourusernamehere  ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
    - Press "Ctrl+x" then press "y" and then press [enter] to exit and save the file
    
Now we exit out of the Terminal completely
    - Type in the following command...
        exit
    - then press [enter]
    - Type exit again...
        exit
    - then press [enter]
    - That should have closed the Terminal application
    
Now let's open a new Terminal and test to see if sudo is working for your user name
    - Click "Activities"
    - Click in the "Type to search..." box
    - Type in "Terminal" and press the [enter] key
    - Test sudo by typing the following command...
        sudo ls
    - then press [enter]
    - type in your password and press [enter]

    - If the output looks like the following...
        yourusernamehere is not in the sudoers file.  This incident will be reported.
    - then you might have to start from the beginning of these instructions and try again.

    - If the output looks like this...
        Desktop  Documents  Downloads  Music  Pictures  Public  Templates  Videos
    - Your username now has sudo rights, congratulations!

Enjoy!

image

To donate, please scan the QR code to the left or send bitcoins to the following address:
17ioPjLoCLDsUKwNpGV9dGtnLmpM8ioyUn

Comments

  • thatguychuckthatguychuck
    Just an FYI, debian will install sudo during installation if you do not specify a root password when prompted.
  • WinstonSmithWinstonSmith
    Just an FYI, debian will install sudo during installation if you do not specify a root password when prompted.
    Thank you thatguychuck!
  • B_BBQB_BBQ
    Wow ... someone who caters for novies like me ... and it worked!!

    Very Grateful

    B_BBQ

  • WinstonSmithWinstonSmith
    Wow ... someone who caters for novies like me ... and it worked!!

    Very Grateful

    B_BBQ

    Thank you B_BBQ!  Your nice words encourage me to continue.  :)
  • waardenwaarden
    hey, just some thoughts/tips. (i've been a debian user/worker/sysadmin for a long time now.)

    if you're going to use sudo the recommended way to edit the sudoers file is using visudo instead of nano. (https://wiki.debian.org/sudo)

    It's also sometimes better to avoid sudo all together and just use su. (https://wiki.debian.org/Root)

    You also don't actually need to edit the sudoers file, you can just add yourself to the sudo group.
    su - && aptitude install sudo && adduser myusername sudo

    after you're in the group you need to logout and back in then you're good.
  • WinstonSmithWinstonSmith
    hey, just some thoughts/tips. (i've been a debian user/worker/sysadmin for a long time now.)

    if you're going to use sudo the recommended way to edit the sudoers file is using visudo instead of nano. (https://wiki.debian.org/sudo)

    It's also sometimes better to avoid sudo all together and just use su. (https://wiki.debian.org/Root)

    You also don't actually need to edit the sudoers file, you can just add yourself to the sudo group.
    su - && aptitude install sudo && adduser myusername sudo

    after you're in the group you need to logout and back in then you're good.
    Thanks waarden,

    I will try these tips the next time I work with a fresh copy of Jessie.

    w
  • IsidroIsidro
    edited May 2016

  • IsidroIsidro

  • IsidroIsidro
    Isidro said:


  • hanssrhanssr
    Dear Winston, It worked!
    Thanks for this great solution
    greetings from Hans (The Netherlands)
  • shreeyashreeya
    Very nicely explained.
    Thanks :)
  • i90rri90rr
    waarden said:
    hey, just some thoughts/tips. (i've been a debian user/worker/sysadmin for a long time now.)

    if you're going to use sudo the recommended way to edit the sudoers file is using visudo instead of nano. (https://wiki.debian.org/sudo)

    It's also sometimes better to avoid sudo all together and just use su. (https://wiki.debian.org/Root)

    You also don't actually need to edit the sudoers file, you can just add yourself to the sudo group.
    su - && aptitude install sudo && adduser myusername sudo

    after you're in the group you need to logout and back in then you're good.

    @WinstonSmith

    Ideally /etc/sudoers.d/ should be used for maximum portability -- and incidentally avoid messing up with the main configuration file.

    Another good practice when working as root is to start with an as much as possible clean environment so $ su - would fit best on most situations.

    HTH
Sign In or Register to comment.