Using 'su -l' starts a shell that inherits:

When invoking the command 'su -l', also known as 'su --login', the shell that is started indeed inherits the environment variables and properties of the new user. This command is used to switch users and start a new session with the login environment of the specified user. It effectively simulates a fresh login, thus applying the user’s environment settings which include paths, home directory, and other critical environment variables that dictate how the shell behaves.

By using this command, the user gains access to the complete environment set up for that user, which may differ drastically from the current user's environment. This is instrumental in scenarios where specific configurations or toolsets tied to a user are required to perform certain operations.

In contrast, the other choices don't accurately describe what happens with 'su -l'. For instance, it does not inherit file permissions of the current user, as the focus is on adopting the target user's permissions and not conserving those of the previous user. Similarly, the command does not transfer any running processes from the current user; those processes remain unaffected and continue to run under the current user's context. Lastly, privileges gained through this command do not have a temporary nature; they are effective until the new user session ends, either through exiting the shell or logging