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I need to install Symantec Antivirus for Linux on my computer.

According to its README file, it says:

Debian and Ubuntu users should use sudo

For installation and when you execute Symantec AntiVirus for Linux commands, Debian and Ubuntu users should use sudo. Do NOT su to root for these actions. In addition, ensure that the user who is running the command is in the sudoers list.

Question #1: How do I avoid su-ing to root?

I'm new to Linux and Ubuntu.

During the installation process, I entered the following details:

Name: Sharon

Account name: Sharon

I notice that whenever I open up a terminal window, it says:

sharon@sharon:~$

Question #2: Is sharon@sharon:~$ root?

PS: I am very new to Linux and Ubuntu; please excuse me if my questions seem elementary.

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n00b
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4 Answers4

4

Just use 'sudo' before the commands. This only assumes root privileges for that command and is the safe way of doing it. What they are saying is do NOT do somthing that will assume root privileges on a more permanent basis (such using 'su' or 'bash' with sudo)

sharon@sharon is your user name, which will be an administrative user, on the computer sharon. You've give the computer the same name as your user. If you want to change the computer name have a look at this question and it's main answer. Most of us use a descriptive name like, office, laptop, or you can follow the geeky convention of giving it a SF name: spock, kirk, picard etc.

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fabricator4
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1) What do you mean by that? sudo gains the account a temporary root privileges. Some applications will need these privileges and you will need to sudo. If however you don't want to type sudo all the time, then type sudo su BUT THAT'S NOT RECOMMENDED.

2) No.

Melon
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If you have downloaded the .deb file from Symantec, double clicking on the file will open Ubuntu Software Center and you will see a button to install the software. Once you click install, it will ask you for your password and then install the software.

If the above procedure does not work, you will need to use the terminal and type in the command in the readme file.

For example the readme file may tell you to type

dpkg -i *.i386.deb

as root. Linux has a special user called root, but in some distributions, like Ubuntu, it is disabled by default. To do something as root, when it is enabled, you have to first type suEnter, then enter root's password. Then you get the root prompt:

root@sharon:/root#

. Once you get the root prompt you enter the command. However, this is not for Ubuntu.

For Ubuntu

You add sudo to the front of the command you want to use as root. You do not (cannot) use the su command first and then use the command you want. So you type:

sharon@sharon:~$ sudo dpkg -i *i386.deb

This is the same command as above but with sudo in front. Once you type a command with sudo in front, the computer will ask for your password. The cursor will not move when you type the password. It will look like nothing is happening at the terminal. This is normal. Enter the password and hit Enter.

Then the computer will execute the commad that you typed after sudo as if you are the root. Thus, even if you are not root, you get temporary power of the root by using the sudo command. In Ubuntu the root account is disabled by default for security. The only way to act as the root is to use the sudo command. This default can be changed, but that is not recommended.

Hope this helps

sierrasdetandil
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user68186
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1) sudo gives root privilegies temporary (for command than you type after sudo), like you say: "su, do it!" su is for logging into someone's else account, like root's. Just run sudo su and you will have root privilegies. Ubuntu doesn't configure su's password, but you can configure it with sudo su passwd. It's best to use sudo for begginers.

2) No, it isn't. You can find two simbols (after any1@hostname) — $ (normal user) and # (root). If you are user, you will see sharon@sharon:~$, if you are root, you will see root@sharon:~# in your terminal.
1st part of any1@hostname (any1) is name of user. 2nd part (hostname) is name of your machine, sometimes called hostname (your machine is host, name is hostname). Tilda (~) is symbol for user's directory.