Linux SuperUser command, but for Windows

[MrLudwig]

Hi,

Does anyone know of an equivalent of the Linux/Unix su command for Windows?

I need a way of being able to temporarily access files/folders and settings that are normally locked-down for the students, without the need to log them off and login as myself.

Thanks.


MrLudwig

[DMcCoy]

runas?

[Geoff]

Well, runas is more like the su command in *nix.

[NetworkGeezer]

This presupposes you have enabled file context menus (right-clicking) or the command prompt in user profiles.

[Geoff]

well you can always psexec into a machine remotely and do it that way.

[NetworkGeezer]

Yeah but no GUI and no network resources and unless you want to transmit admin credentials in clear text

Has any setup an SSH daemon/service or their Windows boxes?

[Geoff]

http://sshwindows.sourceforge.net/

Enjoy.

[CyberNerd]

also IIRC commercial ssh runs on windows and is free for edu

[NetworkGeezer]

/me rubs hands with glee

[ChrisH]

I have used a SSH server on my home PC for a bit now. If you want more than a command line interface as well bitvise tunnelier is a nice windows ssh client which makes it nice and easy to do various tasks quick and simple.

[NetworkGeezer]

Am I correct in understanding that Microsoft have made thing so that you can't run a remote desktop session on an XP box unless the console session is locked or logged out.

[ChrisH]

Yes but you could also VNC over SSH if you want.

[Geoff]

Am I correct in understanding that Microsoft have made thing so that you can't run a remote desktop session on an XP box unless the console session is locked or logged out.

I'm sure there's a command line option for connecting to the users desktop rather than logging them out and locking the workstation. It's something like -console.

[ChrisH]

There is a /console switch that claims to connect to the console session of a server but when I tried it I never seemed to get the syntax right as I always ended up with a GUI.

[sahmeepee]

You can make a terminal server connection to one of your servers and log in with admin credentials. That won't let you make settings in config dialogs, but I'm not sure any of the suggestions here do except runas.

In some cases you could probably make a shortcut to the program you want to run and under the shortcut's properties, shortcut tab, advanced, tick "run with different credentials". You can use iexplore.exe for file management under a different account but you need to F5 after deleting files for it to display properly.

In the case of control panel applets you'll want to makea shortcut to the actual .cpl file and modify that - otherwise "run with different credentials" will be unavailable.