>
> I use XDM on my system. When I login and try to "su - localuser" in
> a xterm, I get the following message:
>
> /dev/ttypc: Operation not permitted
>
The 2nd part of your question seems to be answered by later mails - this
first part however hasn't - but do not be alarmed, it's safe enough and can
be ignored. It's caused simply because you're doing an su. When you logged in
initially say, for example, as user "mary", the ownership if that terminal,
ttypc, was set to mary.
When you su, the routines attempt to chown(2) the terminal to the user you
have su'd to. As this is tried after su has setuid(2)'d down to the new user.
Hence 'Operation not permitted'. The only time the chown(2) would work is if
you su'd to root.
It's nothing to be worry you - the only commands it will affect are ones like
'mesg', which will refuse to work. (mesg toggles the group write (sometimes
the world write as well) permissions on the terminal device so you can
recieve or refuse write(1)'s or talk(1)'s.
At least, that's as I understand it (it happens on Solaris 2.6 as well --
couldn't work it out -- this is what I finally decided it was :) It may be
more than chown(2) - eg, ioctl's, chmod's or whatever - it's simply because
it's changed user before it attempts to manipulate the terminal device).
I can't replciate the problem on my machine (Kernel 2.2.12; SuSE 6.2), so
can't strace it to prove this. *If* I get the time at work (doubtful, yet
possible), I can run su through truss on the Solaris boxes to confirm/deny
this.
Chris...
--
@}-,'-------------------------------------------------- Chris Johnson --'-{@
/ "(it is) crucial that we learn the difference / [EMAIL PROTECTED] \
/ between Sex and Gender. Therein lies the key / \
/ to our freedom" -- LB / www.nccnet.co.uk/~sixie \
************
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