Bash script header to elevate a script that needs to run as "root" if it is run without sudo. Background here: http://darkblue.sdf.org/weblog/post/got-root

gistfile1.txt

# /bin/sh

if [ "$(whoami)" != 'root' ]; then
  echo 'This script must be run as "root".'
  echo 'Enter password to elevate privileges:'
  SCRIPTPATH=$( cd $(dirname $0) ; pwd -P )
  SELF=`basename $0`
  sudo $SCRIPTPATH'/'$SELF
  exit 1
fi
clear
echo 'Script running with root privileges.'

# Your code here