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Home > Archive > alt.os.linux > August 2002 > XWindows works for other users but not for root. Please Help!
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XWindows works for other users but not for root. Please Help!
|
|
| Masai 2002-08-23, 10:42 am |
| If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
the GNOME initialization.
However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
Masai
| |
| Richard Day 2002-08-23, 10:42 am |
| On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 14:45:50 +0000, Masai wrote:
> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
> the GNOME initialization.
>
> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>
> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>
> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>
> Masai
You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
--
The Minstrel-Boy to the war is gone.
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His fathers sword he has girded on,
And his wild harp hung behind him.
"Land of song!" said the warrior-bard,
"Though all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
| |
| Joachim Feise 2002-08-23, 10:42 am |
| Masai wrote:
> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
> the GNOME initialization.
>
> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>
> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>
> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
Well, it works. That's what the background shows.
What you probably don't have in the root account is the configuration
file, .xinitrc
Copy that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary,
and you should be all set.
| |
| Joachim Feise 2002-08-23, 11:42 am |
| Masai wrote:
> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
> the GNOME initialization.
>
> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>
> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>
> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
Well, it works. That's what the background shows.
What you probably don't have in the root account is the configuration
file, .xinitrc
Copy that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary,
and you should be all set.
| |
| Floyd Davidson 2002-08-23, 6:42 pm |
| Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>Masai wrote:
>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
>> the GNOME initialization.
>>
>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>
>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>
>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>
>Well, it works. That's what the background shows.
>What you probably don't have in the root account is the configuration
>file, .xinitrc
>Copy that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary,
>and you should be all set.
However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just
so that when you accidentally try to start X from root it is
*immediately* obvious that a mistake has been made.
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.ptialaska.net/~floyd>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@barrow.com
| |
| Floyd Davidson 2002-08-23, 7:42 pm |
| Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>Masai wrote:
>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any of
>> the GNOME initialization.
>>
>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>
>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>
>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>
>Well, it works. That's what the background shows.
>What you probably don't have in the root account is the configuration
>file, .xinitrc
>Copy that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary,
>and you should be all set.
However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just
so that when you accidentally try to start X from root it is
*immediately* obvious that a mistake has been made.
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.ptialaska.net/~floyd>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@barrow.com
| |
|
| OK. I take your advice. But I am curious now as to why it does not
work. One thing I did found out, just to add another twist, is that
after logging in as root, I types init 5. That immediately fired X,
showed me various login names. From which I select root and voila I got
the GNOME OE. Then I rebooted, logged in as root again, and tried startx.
That still did not work!
BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
Masai.
On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 16:38:26 -0700, Floyd Davidson wrote:
> Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>>Masai wrote:
>>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any
>>> of the GNOME initialization.
>>>
>>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>>
>>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>>
>>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>>
>>Well, it works. That's what the background shows. What you probably
>>don't have in the root account is the configuration file, .xinitrc Copy
>>that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary, and you
>>should be all set.
>
> However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
>
> I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just so that
> when you accidentally try to start X from root it is *immediately*
> obvious that a mistake has been made.
>
| |
|
| OK. I take your advice. But I am curious now as to why it does not
work. One thing I did found out, just to add another twist, is that
after logging in as root, I types init 5. That immediately fired X,
showed me various login names. From which I select root and voila I got
the GNOME OE. Then I rebooted, logged in as root again, and tried startx.
That still did not work!
BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
Masai.
On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 16:38:26 -0700, Floyd Davidson wrote:
> Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>>Masai wrote:
>>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any
>>> of the GNOME initialization.
>>>
>>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>>
>>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>>
>>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>>
>>Well, it works. That's what the background shows. What you probably
>>don't have in the root account is the configuration file, .xinitrc Copy
>>that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary, and you
>>should be all set.
>
> However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
>
> I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just so that
> when you accidentally try to start X from root it is *immediately*
> obvious that a mistake has been made.
>
| |
|
| Masai wrote:
> OK. I take your advice. But I am curious now as to why it does not
> work. One thing I did found out, just to add another twist, is that
> after logging in as root, I types init 5. That immediately fired X,
> showed me various login names. From which I select root and voila I got
> the GNOME OE. Then I rebooted, logged in as root again, and tried startx.
> That still did not work!
>
> BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
>
> Masai.
>
> On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 16:38:26 -0700, Floyd Davidson wrote:
>
>> Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>>>Masai wrote:
>>>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>>>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any
>>>> of the GNOME initialization.
>>>>
>>>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>>>
>>>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>>>
>>>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>>>
>>>Well, it works. That's what the background shows. What you probably
>>>don't have in the root account is the configuration file, .xinitrc Copy
>>>that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary, and you
>>>should be all set.
>>
>> However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
>>
>> I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just so that
>> when you accidentally try to start X from root it is *immediately*
>> obvious that a mistake has been made.
>>
If you want to use a graphical login prompt then you can edit the file
/etc/inittab
There you will find a line that looks like this...
id:3:initdefault:
change the 3 to a 5 and X will run and prompt you to log in from there.
| |
|
| Masai wrote:
> OK. I take your advice. But I am curious now as to why it does not
> work. One thing I did found out, just to add another twist, is that
> after logging in as root, I types init 5. That immediately fired X,
> showed me various login names. From which I select root and voila I got
> the GNOME OE. Then I rebooted, logged in as root again, and tried startx.
> That still did not work!
>
> BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
>
> Masai.
>
> On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 16:38:26 -0700, Floyd Davidson wrote:
>
>> Joachim Feise <jfeise@ics.uci.edu> wrote:
>>>Masai wrote:
>>>> If I login as 'root' and start XWindows, it only gets as far as the
>>>> grey-dotted background and a cross. XWindows does not fo through any
>>>> of the GNOME initialization.
>>>>
>>>> However, if I log in as a user the XWindows work perfectly.
>>>>
>>>> I am running RedHat 7.3 with kernel 2.4.18-10, and GNOME OE.
>>>>
>>>> What could be preventing XWindows from working as root? Thanks
>>>
>>>Well, it works. That's what the background shows. What you probably
>>>don't have in the root account is the configuration file, .xinitrc Copy
>>>that over from your normal account, modify it if necessary, and you
>>>should be all set.
>>
>> However, as someone else has already pointed out, don't do it!
>>
>> I would highly advise that it be left exactly as it is now, just so that
>> when you accidentally try to start X from root it is *immediately*
>> obvious that a mistake has been made.
>>
If you want to use a graphical login prompt then you can edit the file
/etc/inittab
There you will find a line that looks like this...
id:3:initdefault:
change the 3 to a 5 and X will run and prompt you to log in from there.
| |
|
| Masai spat:
> BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
>
btw, you DO have .xinitrc files  anyway, change your default
runlevel to 5 in /etc/inittab and you'll get the graphical
login you're looking for
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer, # Black holes result
skydiver, and author: "Inside Linux", # when God divides the
"C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed" # universe by zero
| |
|
| Masai spat:
> BTW, I donot have any .xinitrc files for any username.
>
btw, you DO have .xinitrc files anyway, change your default
runlevel to 5 in /etc/inittab and you'll get the graphical
login you're looking for
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer, # Black holes result
skydiver, and author: "Inside Linux", # when God divides the
"C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed" # universe by zero
| |
| Paul Evans 2002-08-26, 6:28 pm |
| On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 14:50:22 GMT
"Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
YaST2 program.. that's X.
--
Paul Evans
(2nd Year CompSci at Pembroke College, Cambridge, England)
pe208@cam.ac.uk (university)
nerd@freeuk.com (alternate)
ICQ# 4135350
Registered Linux User: 179460
| |
|
| -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
NotDashEscaped: You need GnuPG to verify this message
Paul Evans wrote:
> "Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
>> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
>> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
>
> But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
> YaST2 program.. that's X.
.... wanna place a bet on that?
jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer, # Black holes result
skydiver, and author: "Inside Linux", # when God divides the
"C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed" # universe by zero
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Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org
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| |
| Paul Evans 2002-08-26, 7:28 pm |
| On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 14:50:22 GMT
"Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
YaST2 program.. that's X.
--
Paul Evans
(2nd Year CompSci at Pembroke College, Cambridge, England)
pe208@cam.ac.uk (university)
nerd@freeuk.com (alternate)
ICQ# 4135350
Registered Linux User: 179460
| |
|
| -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
NotDashEscaped: You need GnuPG to verify this message
Paul Evans wrote:
> "Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
>> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
>> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
>
> But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
> YaST2 program.. that's X.
.... wanna place a bet on that?
jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer, # Black holes result
skydiver, and author: "Inside Linux", # when God divides the
"C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed" # universe by zero
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org
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| |
| #Harold Stevens US.972.952.3293 2002-08-26, 7:28 pm |
| In <Kgza9.2348$lY6.469008525@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com>, mjt:
[Snip...]
>jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
I think he mentioned YaST2 specifically; it's X-only and I think there are
some functions in YaST2 which are a superset of YaST on a console. I can't
recall exactly, but I think SaX vs. SaX2 for X setup is an example. That's
important since I think XFree 4.* is done with SaX2 but not SaX under SuSE
8.0 (IIRC). At any rate, I don't think YaST has the complete functionality
of YaST2 whether running on a console on in an xterm.
But I have been badly mistaken before and corrections are welcome.
--
Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS *
Pardon any bogus email addresses (mklog*) in place for spambots.
Really it's (wyrd) at raytheon, dotted with com. DO NOT SPAM IT.
Standard Disclaimer: These are my opinions not Raytheon Company.
| |
| #Harold Stevens US.972.952.3293 2002-08-26, 8:28 pm |
| In <Kgza9.2348$lY6.469008525@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com>, mjt:
[Snip...]
>jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
I think he mentioned YaST2 specifically; it's X-only and I think there are
some functions in YaST2 which are a superset of YaST on a console. I can't
recall exactly, but I think SaX vs. SaX2 for X setup is an example. That's
important since I think XFree 4.* is done with SaX2 but not SaX under SuSE
8.0 (IIRC). At any rate, I don't think YaST has the complete functionality
of YaST2 whether running on a console on in an xterm.
But I have been badly mistaken before and corrections are welcome.
--
Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS *
Pardon any bogus email addresses (mklog*) in place for spambots.
Really it's (wyrd) at raytheon, dotted with com. DO NOT SPAM IT.
Standard Disclaimer: These are my opinions not Raytheon Company.
| |
| Floyd Davidson 2002-08-26, 8:29 pm |
| mjt < mjtobler@removethis_consultant
.com> wrote:
>Paul Evans wrote:
>> "Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
>>> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
>>
>> But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
>> YaST2 program.. that's X.
>
>... wanna place a bet on that?
>
>jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
And even if it were, so what?
Start up X as a regular user, invoke an xterm, su to root. Then
type in "yast" and press enter...
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.ptialaska.net/~floyd>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@barrow.com
| |
| kamelion10001 2002-08-26, 8:29 pm |
| mjt wrote:
>
> ... wanna place a bet on that?
>
> jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
>
Better make sure that your Xhosts is accepting connections from other
users and that root's $DISPLAY environment variable is set to
localhost:0 first.
-Eric
| |
| Floyd Davidson 2002-08-26, 9:29 pm |
| mjt < mjtobler@removethis_consultant
.com> wrote:
>Paul Evans wrote:
>> "Richard Day" <rday42@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> You shouldnt be running x-windows as root anyway.
>>> if you need to do some administrative stuff then su
>>
>> But what if you want to run an X program? For example, the SuSE Linux 8.0
>> YaST2 program.. that's X.
>
>... wanna place a bet on that?
>
>jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
And even if it were, so what?
Start up X as a regular user, invoke an xterm, su to root. Then
type in "yast" and press enter...
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.ptialaska.net/~floyd>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@barrow.com
| |
| kamelion10001 2002-08-26, 9:29 pm |
| mjt wrote:
>
> ... wanna place a bet on that?
>
> jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
>
Better make sure that your Xhosts is accepting connections from other
users and that root's $DISPLAY environment variable is set to
localhost:0 first.
-Eric
| |
| Hal Burgiss 2002-08-26, 9:29 pm |
| On 26 Aug 2002 17:13:52 -0800, Floyd Davidson <floyd@ptialaska.net>
wrote:
>
> Start up X as a regular user, invoke an xterm, su to root. Then
> type in "yast" and press enter...
Or 'sudo yast' (after proper configuration).
--
Hal Burgiss
| |
| Hal Burgiss 2002-08-26, 10:29 pm |
| On 26 Aug 2002 17:13:52 -0800, Floyd Davidson <floyd@ptialaska.net>
wrote:
>
> Start up X as a regular user, invoke an xterm, su to root. Then
> type in "yast" and press enter...
Or 'sudo yast' (after proper configuration).
--
Hal Burgiss
| |
|
| "kamelion10001" <l87qc@NOSPAM.qcunix1.PLEASE.qc.edu> wrote in message
news:3D6AD947.1010903@NOSPAM.qcunix1.PLEASE.qc.edu...
> mjt wrote:
>
> >
> > ... wanna place a bet on that?
> >
> > jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
> >
>
>
> Better make sure that your Xhosts is accepting connections from other
> users and that root's $DISPLAY environment variable is set to
> localhost:0 first.
>
Eeek, security risk, only allow root to access the display, otherwise people
could nicely keygrab you password, if you allow anyone to access the
display. MitMagicCookies or whatever allow this.
| |
|
| "kamelion10001" <l87qc@NOSPAM.qcunix1.PLEASE.qc.edu> wrote in message
news:3D6AD947.1010903@NOSPAM.qcunix1.PLEASE.qc.edu...
> mjt wrote:
>
> >
> > ... wanna place a bet on that?
> >
> > jump to a console: <cntl><alt><f2> and type "yast" and press enter.
> >
>
>
> Better make sure that your Xhosts is accepting connections from other
> users and that root's $DISPLAY environment variable is set to
> localhost:0 first.
>
Eeek, security risk, only allow root to access the display, otherwise people
could nicely keygrab you password, if you allow anyone to access the
display. MitMagicCookies or whatever allow this.
|
|
|
|
|