How to Become Superuser (root) or Assume a Role

Become superuser or assume a role by using one of the following methods. Each method requires that you know either the superuser password or the role password.

1. Become superuser by selecting one of the following methods:

   • Log in as a user, then do the following:

     1. Start the Solaris Management Console.

     2. Select a Solaris management tool.

     3. Log in as root.

     This method enables to you perform any management task from the console.

     For information on starting the Solaris Management Console, see How to Start the Solaris Management Console in a Name Service Environment.

   • Log in as superuser on the system console.

     hostname console: root Password: root-password #

     The pound sign (#) is the shell prompt for the superuser account.

     This method provides complete access to all of the system commands and tools.

   • Log in as a user, then change to the superuser account by using the su command at the command line.

     % su Password: root-password #

     This method provides complete access to all of the system commands and tools.

   • Log in remotely as superuser.

     This method is not enabled by default. You must modify the /etc/default/login file to remotely log in as superuser on the system console. For information on modifying this file, see Chapter 3, Controlling Access to Systems (Tasks), in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

     This method provides complete access to all system commands and tools.

2. Assume a role.

   Select one of the following methods:

   • Log in as user, then change to a role by using the su command at the command line.

     % su role Password: role-password $

     This method provides access to all of the commands and tools that the role has access to.

   • Log in as a user, then do the following:

     1. Start the Solaris Management Console.

     2. Select a Solaris management tool.

     3. Assume a role.

     For information on starting the Solaris Management Console, see How to Start the Console as Superuser or as a Role.

     This method provides access to all of the Solaris management tools that the role has access to.