UNIX xp...

[Nairn Niteraven]

Looking for a UNIX expert; what's the difference, subtle or otherwise, between root and sudo * or sudo "all" as far as installing programs that insist on being installed by root.

I'm having a fit with tech support. I don't understand the problem with me having root's password on a development server, but that's another issue.

The question is, what are the differences?

[Teedyo]

If you truly have sudo ALL access; then the only difference is that you don't get a root shell(and all activities are logged). Of course, with a small bit of work you can give yourself a root shell with sudo ALL. Probably shouldn't. ;-)