The article discusses the historical transition in Unix systems where the 'su' command replaced the 'login' command for switching user accounts. It explains how this change reflected evolving security practices and system administration needs in Unix environments. The piece provides technical context about how user authentication and session management evolved in early Unix systems.
Background
The 'su' (substitute user) command has been a fundamental part of Unix-like operating systems for decades, allowing users to switch between accounts while maintaining some environment variables. The 'login' command was historically used for initial system access and user authentication.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Jun 5, 2026 at 08:53 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10