On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM, ToddAndMargo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a bash script that need to be run as root.
> In the script, I check to see if it is running as
> root and flag the user to run appropriately.
>
> Is there a way to use "su" to prompt for the password
> and continue the script if successful? (I would test for
> $? after the prompt.)

Is there any reason not to use "sudo", which has more sophisticated
options and can better manage providing root privileges, with or
without password authentication, for specific tools?

> Currently "su" will just open a new shell as root.
>
> I can run a command inside "su", but what about the
> other 200 lines of code?  :'(
>
> Many thanks,
> -T

Put the code that must run as root in one file, which is *run* by a
wrapper tool or wrapper script.