Does sudo have to ask for my password every single time?

[sepoto]

It seems that every time I use the 'sudo' command I have to type a password. Is there a way to get 'sudo' to remember the password at least for the current session after I use it once or something like that?

Thank you.

[jpollard]

It should last 5 minutes.

It is limited to prevent "walkup" take overs (ie. you have to step out...).

[sepoto]

For me it is not lasting even five minutes. It asks every time for a password no matter what.

[jpollard]

Well,, it appears to be a compile time limit. I haven't found any way to
change it. There may be a way though, but so far, without looking at the
source, I've seen no configuration file that contains it.

[bbobbo]

as long as you enter another sudo command within 5 minutes of the last sudo command, you won't have to enter your password. you can change the default action in /etc/sudoers. do 'man sudoers' for more information.

---------- Post added at 04:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

from 'man sudoers':

       timestamp_timeout
                       Number of minutes that can elapse before sudo will ask
                       for a passwd again.  The default is 5.  Set this to 0
                       to always prompt for a password.  If set to a value
                       less than 0 the user’s timestamp will never expire.
                       This can be used to allow users to create or delete
                       their own timestamps via sudo -v and sudo -k
                       respectively.

and

       exempt_group
                   Users in this group are exempt from password and PATH
                   requirements.  This is not set by default.

[jpollard]

Thanks - I looked for a timeout in there, but didn't find one. (nor the info
file either...)

[smr54]

Another thing to keep in mind that everyone probably knows, but no one has mentioned, so just in case....

If I have an xterm open, and do sudo whatever, within that xterm, I have a five minute period to do something.

However, if I then open another xterm and type sudo whatever, I will have to enter my password again. It's a separate session.

[ElderSnake]

Yes exactly, as long as it's the same session (terminal window) it should definitely last you 5 minutes.

You can also grant yourself the no password ability in the sudoers file too... but wouldn't recommend that..

[thunderwinde]

Originally Posted by ElderSnake

Yes exactly, as long as it's the same session (terminal window) it should definitely last you 5 minutes.

You can also grant yourself the no password ability in the sudoers file too... but wouldn't recommend that..

+1 Yeah, kind of beats the whole purpose of not logging in as root to begin with

[SiliconSlick]

Originally Posted by thunderwinde

+1 Yeah, kind of beats the whole purpose of not logging in as root to begin with

Not entirely... it means I would have to do:

sudo rm -rf /

instead of just:

rm -rf /

to ruin my whole day.

SS

[smr54]

It can be useful in a script, where one specifies that only command x can be run with no password. Like many things, useful, but bad if misused.

[assen]

Hi,

If you need a long-lasting "sudo", just open a root shell:

sudo bash

WWell,

[thunderwinde]

Originally Posted by SiliconSlick

Not entirely... it means I would have to do:

sudo rm -rf /

instead of just:

rm -rf /

to ruin my whole day.

SS

Must be a fast user if you can undo that in just one day

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 PM ----------

Originally Posted by assen

Hi,

If you need a long-lasting "sudo", just open a root shell:

sudo bash

WWell,

Hmm... I might be missing something here, but how exactly would that differ from just opening a shell and logging in as root? Seems like a roundabout way to get to where 'su -' will take you.

[jroa1]

Originally Posted by thunderwinde

Hmm... I might be missing something here, but how exactly would that differ from just opening a shell and logging in as root? Seems like a roundabout way to get to where 'su -' will take you.

I guess if you do not have the root password but you do have sudo privileges, this might be an option. But then you could always

sudo su -

[thunderwinde]

Originally Posted by jroa1

I guess if you do not have the root password but you do have sudo privileges, this might be an option. But then you could always

sudo su -

The logical continuation of which is:

# sudo su -

# passwd root