# What Can I Do If Switching from a Non-root User to User root Times Out?

#### Symptom

When you run the sudo command to switch to user root on an Ubuntu or Debian ECS, the system prompts connection timeout.

Figure 1 Connection timeout

#### Solution

1. Log in to the ECS.
2. Run the following command to edit the hosts configuration file:

   vi /etc/hosts

3. Press i to enter editing mode.
4. Add the IP address and hostname to the last line of the hosts configuration file.

   Private IP address hostname

   An example is provided as follows:

   If the ECS hostname is hostname and the private IP address of the ECS is 192.168.0.1, add the following statement:

   192.168.0.1 hostname

5. Press Esc to exit editing mode.
6. Run the following command to save the configuration and exit:

   :wq

To update the hostname of an Ubuntu or Debian ECS, set the value of parameter manage_etc_hosts in the /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg file to false and update the new hostname in the /etc/hosts file. When editing the /etc/hosts file, do not delete the statement in the line where 127.0.0.1 is located. Otherwise, switching from a non-root user to user root will time out.

Parent topic: Troubleshooting