Using UnixLoginModule to login as root in Linux

Question

I am running an app on a Linux box where I am already logged in. I want to spawn a process that needs to run as root. I have tried to use UnixLoginModule to login as root :
        Subject subject = new Subject();
        subject.getPrincipals().add(new UnixPrincipal("root"));
        LoginContext loginContext = new LoginContext("Login", subject, new MyHandler());
        loginContext.login();but my callback handler that would supply the password is never called and I don't appear to be logged in as root. It looks like UnixLoginModule simply returns data about the current user which is a fat lot of good. Does anyone know what I can do to make this thing do what it is supposed to do and allow me to perform a login? If JAAS is inadequate is there another way to acheive this?
Regards,
Matthew

Answer 1

What ab�ut using an external tool like "sudo" to accomplish this?