Root Privileges to Users on RedHat 8.1 Linux Server


This tutorial will guide you on how to assign a root privillege for users on RedHat 8.1 Linux server.

Sudo is installed by default on all environments. We can set a rules for an user to perform all the root actions or particular set of actions like service restart, specific command execution etc.,

1. Provide full root privileges to an user

Open terminal and login as root user, then open sudoers file using vim editor.

[root@worldwidelinux ]# vim /etc/sudoers

Add below line into sudoers file on 101th line.


redhat ALL=(ALL) ALL


For an example, let's add redhat user into sudoers file to provide root access.

Example: Login as root from normal user

Execute sudo su - command to login as root from normal user.


[redhat@worldwidelinux ~]# sudo su -

We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:

#1) Respect the privacy of others.

#2) Think before you type.

#3) With great power comes great responsibility.

[sudo] password for redhat: {Type your user password}

[root@worldwidelinux ~]#


2. Allow users to perform root actions

Open terminal and login as root user, then open sudoers file using vim editor.

[root@worldwidelinux ]# vim /etc/sudoers

Add below line into sudoers file on 101th line.


user_name ALL=(ALL) ALL=systemctl restart httpd.service


Replace user_name with your username. You can add multiple commands seperated by comma in the ALL= attribute.

Example: Restart a httpd service as root user

For an example, we allow redhat user to perform httpd restart. Usually, root user only can do service start, stop and restart actions. So we have to configure redhat user to perform a systemctl restart command into sudoers file.


redhat ALL=(ALL) ALL=/usr/bin/systemctl restart httpd.service


Restart httpd service as root from normal user.


[redhat@worldwidelinux ~]# sudo systemctl restart httpd.service

[sudo] password for redhat: {Type system user password}