Question

17

What's the difference between 'sudo [command]' and 'sudo sh [command]?

rated 0 times [ 17] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 59569 / 2 Years ago, thu, january 27, 2022, 6:22:36

I'm trying to install VMware Workstation in my Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS.
If I execute the following command:

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-9.0.1-894247.x86_64.bundle

it finishes at once and the installation never starts.

If I execute this command:

sudo sh ./VMware-Workstation-9.0.1-894247.x86_64.bundle

The installer can be launched successfully.

Why does this make a difference?

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answered 2 Years ago rmodmi · Accepted Answer

If the file is not marked as executable you need to call a command shell interpreter to execute it.

Examples:

sudo sh foo will open foo with sh using sudo privileges.

sudo bash foo will open foo with bash using sudo privileges.

sh foo will open foo with sh using your user's privileges.

bash foo will open foo with bash using your user's privileges.

If you mark a file as executable you just need to call it with ./foo and because it is marked as such it will be read with the defined command shell interpreter and executed without the need to define one.

ls -F will list files and mark executables with *.

To enable the execute bit on a file (and make it executable as such) use the command chmod +x foo.

In your case to make the file you are using executable you would then use the command

chmod +x VMware-Workstation-9.0.1-894247.x86_64.bundle

and then you will be able to run it with either

sudo sh ./VMware-Workstation-9.0.1-894247.x86_64.bundle or just by typing sudo ./VMware-Workstation-9.0.1-894247.x86_64.bundle.