Re: [gentoo-user] trouble running X clients as root

[Tamas Sarga]

Robert Persson wrote:
> I am trying to run gdmsetup and getting "can't find display" type errors.
>
> Here is what happened when I try to run it from an xterm:
>
> robert@zebedee ~ $ sux
> Password:
> zebedee robert # gdmsetup
>
> (gdmsetup:6618): GnomeUI-WARNING **: While connecting to session manager:
> Authentication Rejected, reason : None of the authentication protocols
> specified are supported and host-based authentication failed.
> Could not access GDM configuration file.
> zebedee robert # exit
> exit
> robert@zebedee ~ $ sudo gdmsetup
> Password:
>
> (gdmsetup:6828): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:
>
>
> I then tried, as a test, to open a root xterm using sux and I got the
> following error:
>
> sux
> Password:
> zebedee robert # xterm
> Warning: Tried to connect to session manager, Authentication Rejected,
> reason : None of the authentication protocols specified are supported and
> host-based authentication failed
>
>
> However the root xterm opened up anyway. It failed when I tried to sudo an
> xterm:
>
> sudo xterm
> Warning: This program is an suid-root program or is being run by the root
> user.
> The full text of the error or warning message cannot be safely formatted
> in this environment. You may get a more descriptive message by running the
> program as a non-root user or by removing the suid bit on the executable.
> xterm Xt error: Can't open display: %s
> xterm:  DISPLAY is not set
>
>
> However DISPLAY +is+ set. When I "echo $DISPLAY", "sudo echo $DISPLAY" or sux
> and then "echo $DISPLAY" I get the same answer--  :0.0
>
> This has got me quite confused. I used not to get these messages when I ran X
> clients as root. Anyone know what is going on here?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Robert

Hi,

I tried to reproduce it, but can't. But I dicovered, that `sux` and `sux 
-` is not the same. The help doesn't say anything about - parameter, but 
if I give `env` after `sux` and `sux -` then I found some differences. 
Maybe `sux -` worth a try for you. BTW I can start xterm without any 
error or warning with or without -.
In /etc/X11 I don't find any approrpiate setting. Maybe you could try it 
under TWM.

TIA.
Cheers,
Tamas Sarga
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