I can confirm that #14 works for me also, however it doesn't provide me with with the functionality that I require.
It would be useful to know whether this is intended behavior, or an unintended bug. Updated bug title to reflect comment #14, and added a paragraph to the top of the bug description outlining the issue as it is currently understood. ** Description changed: + If as an unprivileged user you launch xinit (or startx) to any vt (EVEN + IF UNALLOCATED BY SYSTEMD) it will fail as described below. The only + exception appears to be if the vt you attempt to launch X onto is + already logged into by that user. For many this makes running X + unprivileged unworkable. + + -- + When attempting to run xinit or startx after upgrading from 14.04 to 16.04 it will not work. There seems to be some sort of permission issue. I have seen another person with this issue as well here: http://askubuntu.com/questions/749370/ubuntu-16-04-xf86openconsole- cannot-open-virtual-console-2?newreg=ba376d7a182d44608ed4675346b1ed74 An example is when attempting to launch kodi, which worked prior to the upgrade: xinit /usr/bin/kodi --standalone -- -nocursor :0 - X.Org X Server 1.18.1 Release Date: 2016-02-08 X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0 Build Operating System: Linux 3.13.0-79-generic x86_64 Ubuntu Current Operating System: Linux hostname 4.4.0-15-generic #31-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 18 19:08:31 UTC 2016 x86_64 Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-15-generic root=UUID=6f2e8267-1240-4f7b-9889-42e65d74767e ro biosdevname=0 text Build Date: 11 March 2016 07:43:21AM - xorg-server 2:1.18.1-1ubuntu4 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support) + xorg-server 2:1.18.1-1ubuntu4 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support) Current version of pixman: 0.33.6 - Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org - to make sure that you have the latest version. + Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org + 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. + (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, + (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. (==) Log file: "/home/arch/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Mar 25 20:14:07 2016 (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d" - (EE) + (EE) Fatal server error: (EE) xf86OpenConsole: Cannot open virtual console 2 (Permission denied) - (EE) - (EE) - Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support - at http://wiki.x.org - for help. + (EE) + (EE) + Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support + at http://wiki.x.org + for help. (EE) Please also check the log file at "/home/arch/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log" for additional information. - (EE) + (EE) (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file. xinit: giving up xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused - - I have tried numerous workarounds including reinstalling xorg, removing all x-related files in my profile, and creating a new user. Unfortunately none of these worked. + I have tried numerous workarounds including reinstalling xorg, removing + all x-related files in my profile, and creating a new user. + Unfortunately none of these worked. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04 Package: xinit 1.3.4-3 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-15.31-generic 4.4.6 Uname: Linux 4.4.0-15-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3 Architecture: amd64 CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins' Date: Fri Mar 25 20:14:18 2016 DistUpgraded: 2016-03-25 09:16:37,728 DEBUG enabling apt cron job DistroCodename: xenial DistroVariant: ubuntu DkmsStatus: oem-audio-hda-daily, 0.201412181801~ubuntu14.04.1, 3.13.0-83-generic, x86_64: installed EcryptfsInUse: Yes ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/xinit GraphicsCard: - Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0402] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) - Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [1849:0402] + Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0402] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) + Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [1849:0402] InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-12-14 (467 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.3) MachineType: To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M. ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-15-generic root=UUID=6f2e8267-1240-4f7b-9889-42e65d74767e ro biosdevname=0 text SourcePackage: xinit UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2016-03-25 (0 days ago) dmi.bios.date: 05/18/2015 dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc. dmi.bios.version: P1.90 dmi.board.name: H97M Pro4 dmi.board.vendor: ASRock dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.chassis.type: 3 dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrP1.90:bd05/18/2015:svnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:rvnASRock:rnH97MPro4:rvr:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.: dmi.product.name: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.product.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M. dmi.sys.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M. version.compiz: compiz N/A version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.67-1 version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 11.1.2-1ubuntu2 version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 11.1.2-1ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.18.1-1ubuntu4 version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.10.1-1ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.6.1-1ubuntu2 version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20160218-1ubuntu3 version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.12-1build2 xserver.bootTime: Fri Mar 25 19:47:54 2016 xserver.configfile: default xserver.devices: - input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6 - input Video Bus KEYBOARD, id 7 - input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 8 - input Sleep Button KEYBOARD, id 9 - input AT Translated Set 2 keyboard KEYBOARD, id 10 + input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6 + input Video Bus KEYBOARD, id 7 + input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 8 + input Sleep Button KEYBOARD, id 9 + input AT Translated Set 2 keyboard KEYBOARD, id 10 xserver.errors: - + xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log xserver.outputs: - product id 2223 - vendor ACR + product id 2223 + vendor ACR xserver.version: 2:1.18.1-1ubuntu4 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu-X, which is subscribed to xinit in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1562219 Title: Unprivileged xinit wont start in unallocated vt To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xinit/+bug/1562219/+subscriptions _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat Post to : ubuntu-x-swat@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp