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How do I use visudo editor?
visudo command uses vi as the editor here some tips to use it:
- Switch to root, (su root), then run visudo, (as above).
- Find where it says “root ALL=(ALL) ALL”.
- Type “o” to insert a new line below it.
- Now type what you want to insert, eg “username ALL=(ALL) ALL”.
- Hit esc to exit insert-mode.
- Type “:x” to save and exit.
What is the point of the visudo editor Why should you not use regular vi or vim to edit this file?
visudo checks the file syntax before actually overwriting the sudoers file. If you use a plain editor, mess up the syntax, and save… sudo will (probably) stop working, and, since /etc/sudoers is only modifiable by root , you’re stuck (unless you have another way of gaining root).
Why is it best to use the visudo command to edit the ETC sudoers file rather than the vi editor?
The visudo command opens a text editor like normal, but it validates the syntax of the file upon saving. This prevents configuration errors from blocking sudo operations, which may be your only way of obtaining root privileges. Traditionally, visudo opens the /etc/sudoers file with the vi text editor.
What is the point of visudo?
visudo edits the sudoers file in a safe fashion, analogous to vipw(8). visudo locks the sudoers file against multiple simultaneous edits, provides basic sanity checks, and checks for parse errors. If the sudoers file is currently being edited you will receive a message to try again later.
How do I quit visudo?
Once you’re done editing the file, use the standard sequence to finish your text editor session. In vi/vim: type “:wq” – this means pressing : first, which activates the command mode, then typing wq and pressing Enter. This sequence will save the file and exit the editor.
Why do we need to use visudo instead of directly modifying the?
If you use a plain editor, mess up the syntax, and save… sudo will (probably) stop working, and, since /etc/sudoers is only modifiable by root, you’re stuck (unless you have another way of gaining root). Additionally it ensures that the edits will be one atomic operation.
Why does visudo lock the sudoers file?
Since the sudoers file determines which users can run administrative tasks, those requiring superuser privileges, it is a good idea to take some precautions when editing it, and that’s what visudo does. It locks the sudoers file so it cannot be edited by anyone else simultaneously.
How can I change the default editor in visudo?
Visudo has a built in list of supported editors that can be used, and you can change which it will use by setting the “EDITOR” environment variable on the command line like this: This will set nano as the default editor. To save this permanently add the same line to the .bashrc file in your home directory.
What kind of editor does visudo use in Fedora 14?
Fedora 14 uses vi by default when one runs visudo. Is there a way to change this to something else? Adding Defaults editor=/path/to/editor in the sudoers file will cause visudo to use the specified editor for changes.