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Using a secure system

Using su to access another account

The su(C) command allows you to become another user without logging off. su cannot be used to simply assume the login of another user; instead, su can be used under four circumstances:


To use su, the appropriate password must be supplied (unless you are already root). If the password is correct, su executes a new shell with the real and effective user ID's set to that of the specified user. (If the system is running under tight security, the login user ID is unchanged; otherwise that, too, is changed to the ID of the specified user.)
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SCO OpenServer Release 6.0.0 -- 03 June 2005