New user on newly created server, added to sudo group but still no sudo access

Michael Goodin

5/13/24, 7:52 PM

I created a new server (ubuntu-s-2vcpu-2gb-nyc1-01) with Ubuntu 22.04 and added a new user (michael). I then added the user to the sudo group. When I check the groups for michael I see the correct groups.

root@ubuntu-s-2vcpu-2gb-nyc1-01:/srv/users/michael# groups michael
michael : michael sudo sp-sysusers

But every time I try to run a sudo command I get the same message:

michael@ubuntu-s-2vcpu-2gb-nyc1-01:~$ sudo cd /
You must SSH in as root to run this command: sudo cd /

I checked /etc/passwd to ensure the user was added right

michael:x:1000:1000::/srv/users/michael:/bin/bash

I checked /etc/sudoers and all looks correct

# User privilege specification
root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# Members of the admin group may gain root privileges
%admin ALL=(ALL) ALL

# Allow members of group sudo to execute any command
%sudo   ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

I've restarted the machine multiple times. Logged off michael and even tried pkill -STOP -u michael but still no luck upon reboot. I've been at this for hours running in circles. What am I missing?

1 + 4

server

sudo

users

sudodus

5/13/24, 8:12 PM

You can't run `sudo cd` because `cd` is a shell built-in. Try to run some other command, for example `sudo fdisk` or `sudo parted`.

Michael Goodin

5/13/24, 8:15 PM

@sudodus same thing: michael@ubuntu-s-2vcpu-2gb-nyc1-01:~$ sudo parted You must SSH in as root to run this command: sudo parted

steeldriver

5/13/24, 8:54 PM

*"created a new server"* how exactly? The message `You must SSH in as root to run this command` looks like something implemented by a VPS provider.

Rinzwind

5/13/24, 9:43 PM

@MichaelGoodin you are using ssh with a none-admin user. Oh and you can not use sudo using the root account either; if you want an admin account add "michael" (name in the command prompt)

Score:0

Ubuntu

Michael Goodin

6/16/24, 6:07 PM

I fixed the issue but I'm still not sure why it worked. I used serverpilot.io to install the server framework AND to add the user michael. I then used sudo to change michael's privileges. It never worked until I removed michael and readded using sudo instead of serverpilot.io.

My guess is that michael was added to another group, that I was ignoring, which caused it not to have true sudo priv's.

Moral of the story, don't use serverpilot.io to create admin-level users.

+ 0

Elon Musk

I sit in a Tesla and translated this thread with Ai:

EN: New user on newly created server, added to sudo group but still no sudo access

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