Bug#574676: pdflatex font metrics generation problem when run as a web-server user

[Bal K Paudyal <bal@attaritech.net>]

Package: texlive-latex-base
Version: 2008-9

I think this package has some issues. pdflatex run as a www-data user
fails to create pk fonts cache at the working directory (the directory
is writable by www-data) or /tmp. It fails with the following error:

*(see the transcript file for additional information)
 !pdfTeX error: pdflatex (file ecsx1000): Font ecsx1000 at 600 not found
  ==> Fatal error occurred, no output PDF file produced!

a folder named $HOME (literally this, not environment variable) is
created in the working directory. and .texmf-var is created but font
cache is not generated.

pdflatex works from command line as www-user from the directory where
where it fails from scripts system("  "); calls.

#su www-data

then at the command promp at the directory which is writable by www-data

pdflatex PO.tex

works OK, creating the pk font cache at the /tmp directory.

However this has some error that says it can not create
directory ././.texmf-var/......

why is that? May be ././ (why the double?)

Thank you

Bal