X windows won't start as simple user

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I am using Gnome as wm. As root i can start X, no problem. As user I get .xauthority doesn’t exist and Connection to X server is lost. :(What can I do?

~-> cat .xsession-errors
xauth: file /home/<user>/.serverauth.2333 does not exist

X.Org X Server 1.12.3
Release Date: 2012-07-09
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: openSUSE SUSE LINUX
Current Operating System: Linux DrWho 3.4.6-2.10-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Jul 26 09:36:26 UTC 2012 (641c197) x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=Linux ro root=/dev/sda8
Build Date: 25 July 2012 07:36:24PM

Current version of pixman: 0.24.4
Before reporting problems, check X.Org Wiki - Home
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (–) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: “/var/log/Xorg.0.log”, Time: Sat Mar 9 04:11:06 2013
(==) Using config directory: “/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d”
(==) Using system config directory “/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d”
resize called 1680 1050
Window Manager: /usr/bin/gnome
/etc/X11/xim: Checking whether an input method should be started.
sourcing /etc/sysconfig/language to get the value of INPUT_METHOD
INPUT_METHOD is set to none.
Trying to start this user selected input method first …
sourcing /etc/X11/xim.d/none
Dummy input method “none” (do not use any fancy input method by default)
Start of none succeeded.
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
> Warning: Compat map for group 2 redefined
> Using new definition
> Warning: Compat map for group 3 redefined
> Using new definition
> Warning: Compat map for group 4 redefined
> Using new definition
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
xinit: connection to X server lost

waiting for X server to shut down Server terminated successfully (0). Closing log file.

TIA
Nikos

#2

Never seen this issue though i have been using GNOME on openSUSE right from 11.0,I guess you trying to start ‘x’ from CLI.
you should also note that openSUSE ships GNOME Shell and not classic GNOME . Some users who migrated from 11.4 and older versions don’t like GNOME Shell.

#3

> I am using Gnome as wm. As root i can start X, no problem. As user I get .xauthority doesn’t exist and Connection to X server is lost. :(What can I do?

> ~-> cat .xsession-errors
> xauth: file /home/<user>/.serverauth.2333 does not exist

Sorry, typo. Meant to say that .serverauth is missing, not .xauthority. .xauthority is fine.

> Never seen this issue though i have been using GNOME on openSUSE right from 11.0,I guess you trying to start ‘x’ from CLI.
> you should also note that openSUSE ships GNOME Shell and not classic GNOME . Some users who migrated from 11.4 and older versions don’t like GNOME Shell.

I guess i am not thrilled either. When I am done I will use metacity. But for now I just need to get X going…

#4

This might be a stupid question, but do we have gdm installed. Its seems older versions of GNOME did not need it
source:- https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1184402

#5

On 03/09/2013 03:46 AM, nbal wrote:
> (What can I do?

i think first you need to come to the understanding/realization that
openSUSE 12.2 is not SuSE 9.1 with seven intervening years spent on
refining to (finally) deliver a “finalized, polished release with
most issues fixed.”

nope. instead i’m gonna venture to say that openSUSE 12.2 is as
different from 9.1 (maybe more so) than would be comparing OSX and BSD…

no, startx as a simple user won’t work…that changed somewhere in
the not so distant past…used to work, but no more…and, the truth
is i also don’t think “init 5” (as root) works on a 12.2 machine
with the default installed systemd (which recently replaced
systemv)…but, i’ve never used a systemd so i’m not sure…

openSUSE is a FAST moving train…it is more intent on breaking
ground than finalizing and polishing…

a trait i can’t say i really admire (therefor i’m using openSUSE 11.4
Evergreen and hoping things settle down before it goes unsupported in
July 2014)

otoh: if you want SuSE 9.1 Pro finalized and polished you want to
take a long look at SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 or 11 at
http://suse.com/

known around here as SLED (or the Server version as SLES) it is free
to download and drive around for some days (90 i think–including
install support) at which time you get to either run it without the
new security patches which come out…or chip in for that
support…that is probably where i’m gonna end up, because this every
eight months release cycle is just not for me.

in case you are wondering: openSUSE is to SLED/S as is Fedora to Red
Hat…

–
dd
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Software

#6

On 2013-03-09 03:46, nbal wrote:
> I am using Gnome as wm. As root i can start X, no problem. As user I get
> .xauthority doesn’t exist and Connection to X server is lost. :(What can
> I do?

Are you using startx?

This will not work and is intentional.

If you still want to use it as plain user, first be advised that some
things will not work because they are expected to be managed by the
displaymanager you did not use (there are things you can do about that
and some people wrote about them). Then I suggest you read the
permissions.local file near the end.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))

#7

@dd:
> openSUSE is a FAST moving train…it is more intent on breaking
> ground than finalizing and polishing…

> a trait i can’t say i really admire (therefor i’m using openSUSE 11.4
> Evergreen and hoping things settle down before it goes unsupported in
> July 2014)

I will have to agree with you on this. I much prefer a finished product with fewer bells and whistles, than half-baked ground breaking stuff. I am sure most users will agree to that, and there would be a lot more of them, if it didn’t take them 2 weeks to configure and debug a new installation to work.

#8

@robin_listas:
> Are you using startx?

Guilty. As evidenced by the logs.

> This will not work and is intentional.

What happenned to backwards compatibility? And there I thought it was the cornerstone of open source.:slight_smile:

> If you still want to use it as plain user, first be advised that some
> things will not work because they are expected to be managed by the
> displaymanager you did not use (there are things you can do about that
> and some people wrote about them). Then I suggest you read the
> permissions.local file near the end.

I did try that. I have setuid Xorg. At least as root startx still works. gdm as a user will give me:


-> gdm

** (gdm:2106): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.DisplayManager: Connection ":1.36" is not allowed to own the service "org.gnome.DisplayManager" due to security policies in the configuration file

** (gdm:2106): WARNING **: Could not acquire name; bailing out

and gdm as root will prompt me to login screens, never giving me a session.

#9

> I am sure most users will agree to that,

you might believe that, but i think you would have a very difficult
time proving the “most” in that statement…

certainly, if you consider the fact that this is a community
product, and among the community of developers i am pretty certain
that most of them want to create a new future…

and, since they are mostly volunteers they get to do what they want
to do, work on what they want to work on!

that is, if you and i (and all who don’t prefer ground breaking) were
to “gang up” on them and force them to “polish and finalize”…well,
they would move on to a distro that better meets their goals and
desires.)

anyway, if you want stable, dependable, predictable, reliable you can
have that…right now i’m very happy with my 11.4+Evergreen (which is
similar to SLED 11 in maturity)

again: you can also have what you want–take a look at SLED

–
dd
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Software

#10

@dd:
> certainly, if you consider the fact that this is a community
> product, and among the community of developers i am pretty certain
> that most of them want to create a new future…

Well, i talked about most users, not developers. I have been involved with linux users from RedHat 2.4, 15 years ago!
I am also one of kannel’s (opensource SMS gateway) authors, so i have experience with opensource. The attitude in kannel
is the opposite: Don’t fix it unless it is broken. And any piece of software or patch is rigorously tested before being
deployed. New features are normally judged with the benefit/cost equation, i.e. how much benefit they offer the users over
how much they cost to support them. Most submissions or ideas are rejected because they are either not aligned with the architecture,
or are too costly.

Not all opensource works the way you describe. It’s all a matter of design philosophy. A responsible, disciplined one, is what
90% of the users, who would switch from Windows, would want and need. Professionals do not have 2 weeks to spend on a new system
configuration.

Take care,
Nikos

#11

On 03/09/2013 02:16 PM, nbal wrote:
> What happenned to backwards compatibility? And there I thought it was
> the cornerstone of open source.:slight_smile:

as far as i recall there has never been a promise that next year’s
linux would be “backwards compatible” with last year’s user or
administrator knowledge!!

not knowing how to administer today’s linux is a matter of
insufficient self-study to “stay current” and is neither a bug in
operating system nor signal that backward compatibility has left the
building.

–
dd

#12 

-> gdm  ** (gdm:2106): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.DisplayManager: Connection ":1.36" is not allowed to own the service "org.gnome.DisplayManager" due to security policies in the configuration file  ** (gdm:2106): WARNING **: Could not acquire name; bailing out

There is some progress. I am able to launch gdm as a user by using:


sudo gdm start

However, it won’t allow me to login as . Instead it cycles through many login screens never giving me a session. /var/log/messages shows:


Mar 10 00:25:26 DrWho dbus[571]: [system] Rejected send message, 2 matched rules; type="method_return", sender=":1.2" (uid=0 pid=537 comm="/lib/systemd/systemd-logind ") interface="(unset)" member="(unset)" error name="(unset)" requested_reply="0" destination=":1.141" (uid=110 pid=6602 comm="/usr/bin/gnome-session -f --debug ")
Mar 10 00:25:26 DrWho dbus-daemon[571]: dbus[571]: [system] Rejected send message, 2 matched rules; type="method_return", sender=":1.2" (uid=0 pid=537 comm="/lib/systemd/systemd-logind ") interface="(unset)" member="(unset)" error name="(unset)" requested_reply="0" destination=":1.141" (uid=110 pid=6602 comm="/usr/bin/gnome-session -f --debug ")

Any cues?
TIA
Nikos

#13

Try a new user looks like your home is messed up. .Xauthority file problem may be caused buy logging into a GUI as root. look at the .Xauthority file in your home and see if it is owned by root should be owned by the user. You can change ownership or just delete it.

#14

I encountered the same issue in one of my many installation of openSUSE 12.2 -Gnome(LVM setting) and I encountered this .Xauthority file missing. The way I resolved, based on my limited knowledge, was to enter into a terminal session(Ctrl-Alt-F2) and then via yast2 to create a new user, test. It worked for me so then I removed the original user and recreated it. I installed again the system for different reasons( got rid of LVM) and never encountered the issue again. I don’t know why it happened so I didn’t report it, as I think it’s not that easy to reproduce it. My point is just in adding in an example on what gogalthorp provided as a solution.

#15

On 2013-03-09 14:16, nbal wrote:

> What happenned to backwards compatibility? And there I thought it was
> the cornerstone of open source.:slight_smile:

Are you sure? Do you know know of a paper where the developers promised
to do that? >:-)

What opensource promises is that as it is opensource YOU can keep it
working as long as YOU want, because you have the sources. That is, if
YOU do the maintenance. There is no promise that others will maintain
that backwards compatibility for you.

Somewhat different, you see >:-)

Linux is a fast moving target. Things change, a lot. Have a search
around systemv/systemd for a good fright. Please be seated.

> I did try that. I have setuid Xorg. At least as root startx still
> works. gdm as a user will give me:

In this 11.4 installation startx works as user when I want it. I’m not
sure about 12.1, and I haven’t tested 12.2 or 12.3 on this.

However, as to gdm, you are not supposed to call it directly. Just start
runlevel 5 and let the system call gdm, not you. If you want to do it
yourself… well, prepare for a fight.

If you are not using the system in the way the designers designed it, be
prepared for problems, and do not complain about it (and do not be
surprised that we may not know how to solve those “problems”). Or, make
your life easier and use it the way it is supposed to be. :slight_smile:

Otherwise, you will have to fight your way and find out about other
methods to do things. It is opensource, you can do what you want: but
you will have to work it out.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))

#16

On 2013-03-09 15:02, dd wrote:
> not knowing how to administer today’s linux is a matter of insufficient
> self-study to “stay current” and is neither a bug in operating system
> nor signal that backward compatibility has left the building.

It is possibly impossible to keep current in all aspects of Linux
administration. Not when it moves so fast.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))

#17

On 2013-03-09 15:06, nbal wrote:

> Not all opensource works the way you describe. It’s all a matter of
> design philosophy. A responsible, disciplined one, is what
> 90% of the users, who would switch from Windows, would want and need.
> Professionals do not have 2 weeks to spend on a new system

Ever heard about the bazaar writeup? :wink:

Yes, I would prefer strategy and well thought design first. Perhaps a
board of “directors”. But it is not the way it is.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))

#18

On Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:04:00 GMT, “dd” <dd@home.dk> wrote:

>On 03/09/2013 03:46 AM, nbal wrote:
>> (What can I do?
>
>i think first you need to come to the understanding/realization that
>openSUSE 12.2 is not SuSE 9.1 with seven intervening years spent on
>refining to (finally) deliver a “finalized, polished release with
>most issues fixed.”
>
>nope. instead i’m gonna venture to say that openSUSE 12.2 is as
>different from 9.1 (maybe more so) than would be comparing OSX and BSD…
>
>no, startx as a simple user won’t work…that changed somewhere in
>the not so distant past…used to work, but no more…and, the truth
>is i also don’t think “init 5” (as root) works on a 12.2 machine
>with the default installed systemd (which recently replaced
>systemv)…but, i’ve never used a systemd so i’m not sure…
>
>openSUSE is a FAST moving train…it is more intent on breaking
>ground than finalizing and polishing…
>
>a trait i can’t say i really admire (therefor i’m using openSUSE 11.4
>Evergreen and hoping things settle down before it goes unsupported in
>July 2014)
>
>otoh: if you want SuSE 9.1 Pro finalized and polished you want to
>take a long look at SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 or 11 at
>http://suse.com/
>
>known around here as SLED (or the Server version as SLES) it is free
>to download and drive around for some days (90 i think–including
>install support) at which time you get to either run it without the
>new security patches which come out…or chip in for that
>support…that is probably where i’m gonna end up, because this every
>eight months release cycle is just not for me.
>
>in case you are wondering: openSUSE is to SLED/S as is Fedora to Red
>Hat…

When you try it post back here. I would like to compare notes with you.

?-)