Humptey-Dumptey
I have a problem with the Debian Linux release; actually, the problem
narrows down to the TK software. While Xwindows works just fine when
logged on as root, Xwindows will not start when logged on as a user.
Since my machine is a single user box, log ons, permissions and
authorizations boil down to mere troublesome convolutions.
However, the Debian system will not allow root to use the dial up ppp,
for security reasons, and the ordinary user, who is considered secure,
can't run Xwindows to fire up the browser, the result is a
Humpty-Dumpty chicken and egg problem.
When xdm is started by the user, a message, "Only root wants to run
xdm" appears. The system has created an Xsession-errors file in the user
home directory that reads, "exclusive open for tmp-name failed in
m4_defs: permission denied."
The system also created two .Xauthority files, one each in the root
and user home directories, but only root had the Magic Cookie, which I
extracted with the xauth command, and added to the user's previously
blank .Xauthority file. No change, same messages.
I am a New York columnist working on an article about the Linux
phennomenon. I was given the Red Hat CD release to work with, but the
Debian policy of offering an extensive Linux system via Internet
download, free and open to all, intrigued me more. I decided to try it
for myself, and have been favorably impressed by the high quality of
the product.
Joseph Tiraco
1/14/99
t@tiraco.com
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