Easy Redirection of sudo Output

If you're using Sudo, you've probably already discovered that the increased privileges apply only to the first command typed and don't extend to any input or output redirection. For example:


sudo iptables -L > /etc/iptables

will give you a 'Permission denied' error because the shell interprets the first command (with sudo), then pipes it into the second command (without sudo).

One solution to this is to jump straight into the root user shell with su. However, this ignores all the many very good reasons to use sudo in the first place (including logging, ticketing and a lower risk of accidentally doing something foolish because you've left a root shell lying around).

A better solution is to use sudo to run bash. Just typing

sudo bash

isn't great, as this would put you in much the same position as just using su. However, if you use the -c option, you can execute a single command and then return to your original shell:

sudo bash -c 'iptables -L > /etc/iptables'

Another option uses echo and a second pipe:

echo 'iptables -L > /etc/iptables' | sudo bash

This method really comes into its own if you're building up a particularly complicated command, as it allows you to confirm what you're doing in advance. Type

echo 'iptables -L > /etc/iptables'

and you'll see the command you're about to run echoed to your screen. This makes sure there aren't any unexpected escapes or similar in there. Then, recall the previous command with the up arrow, and add | sudo bash(or | sudo sh, if you prefer) to the end.

Helpfully, these are all fairly easy to edit from the previous line, for those all-too-common occasions when you forget about the redirection issue until the error reminds you.