How to Add a Root User on Linux
When you first start using a fresh Linux server, adding and removing users is one of the most basic tasks that you should know how to do. When you create a new server, you are only given the root account by default. While this gives you a lot of power and flexibility, it is also dangerous to regularly use an account with so much power; for example, a root user is more vulnerable to security exploits, since any commands run under that account can affect the server's entire filesystem.
Add a Root User and Set a Password
To add a new user, use the adduser
command, replacing the "newuser
" with your preferred username
sudo adduser newuser
Providing the user with a new password, typing and confirming the new password when prompted
sudo passwd newuser
Grant a User Root Privileges
Opening the sudoers file with this command
sudo /usr/sbin/visudo
Adding the user's name and the same permissions as root under the the user privilege specification will grant them the sudo privileges
## Allow root to run any commands anywhere root ALL=(ALL) ALL newuser ALL=(ALL) ALL
Delete a root User
You can delete them with a single command
sudo userdel newuser
You can add the flag "-r
" to the command if you would like to simultaneously remove the users's home directory and files
sudo userdel -r newuser
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