# Does chef nodes need to have admin privileges?

**URL:** <https://discourse.chef.io/t/does-chef-nodes-need-to-have-admin-privileges/7322>\
**Category:** Chef Infra (archive)\
**Created:** [November 13, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/does-chef-nodes-need-to-have-admin-privileges/7322 "2015-11-13T11:38:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![manishmehra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.chef.io/manishmehra/32/1484_2.png) [@manishmehra](https://discourse.chef.io/u/manishmehra)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/does-chef-nodes-need-to-have-admin-privileges/7322/1 "2015-11-13T11:38:40Z")

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Hi Team

I was working in an open environment so far. Now I need to setup Chef in a closed environment (By closed environment I mean; an environment which works behind proxy and the environment in which we usually do not get root access). My doubt is, Is it necessary to have root privileges in node servers in order to install agents and operate via chef?

Thanks and Regards  
Manish Mehra

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**Author:** ![Tensibai](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.chef.io/tensibai/32/29_2.png) [@Tensibai](https://discourse.chef.io/u/Tensibai)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/does-chef-nodes-need-to-have-admin-privileges/7322/2 "2015-11-13T13:53:01Z")

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A lot of resource within chef depend on being root (service control, mount points, etc.).

Not being able to launch chef with sudo drastically restrict what you can do in your recipes at end.

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**Author:** ![manishmehra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.chef.io/manishmehra/32/1484_2.png) [@manishmehra](https://discourse.chef.io/u/manishmehra)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/does-chef-nodes-need-to-have-admin-privileges/7322/3 "2015-11-16T05:09:19Z")

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Thanks @Tensibai .