screensaver in gnome as root

[javierm]

I posted this yesterday but I can't find it
now. My question was, why do screensavers
work in gnome as regular users but not as root. My screen goes black instead of activating the screensaver, which works well
as root in kde. It's driving me crazy. I don't like working as a regular user.

Please help

[recluse.]

/me smacks head.

Ok you're first problem is working as root on a regular basis. DON'T DO IT! I don't care what you do and don't like I, as your master, am commanding you. Muwhahahaha!

You probaly just have to change the setting as root.

[Strike]

The list of reasons to log in to a GUI as root is so incredibly short it's almost non-existant. Bottom line - do not log in as root for normal use.

[javierm]

What a shocker... Neither one of you really gave me the answer that I needed. You have no idea why I need to work as root but telling me not to do it does not help me.

Thanks for NOT really helping me.

[scanez]

Originally posted by javierm:
<STRONG>What a shocker... Neither one of you really gave me the answer that I needed. You have no idea why I need to work as root but telling me not to do it does not help me.

Thanks for NOT really helping me.</STRONG>
Just out of curiousity, why do you need to work as root?

[eXtremist]

By telling you not to log in as root exclusively they have helped you far more than your expected answer would have...

People don't tell you these things because they have nothing better to do.......

So why DO you log in as root, and why NOT as a regular user?

[javierm]

Again, you guys are missing the point. I have a private network which is NOT connected to the internet. I use it for work related research. I don't use it to play games or surf the web.

Besides, when you talk to someone, you assume that they are morons by telling them not to do something. After more than 5 years of working with solaris, hpux, aix and linux now, if you are going to say something, give a valid answer or don't answer at all.

The reason I want to work as root is that I am sick and tired of logging in as a user, then typing xhost +, switching users and setting displays all the time.

Happy?

Now, can you really answer the question or what?

[7]

He's got you there lads, hoho.

If you've been using unix for 5 years you should know that the only difference between users and root are permissions... seems as root can do anything, it is not a permission issue.

You must just have root's personal gnome settings wrong mate.

[javierm]

Well, still nobody has answered the question right. I have observed this behavior with more than 5 linux distros. The gnome version that i use is 1.4 and is the one that comes with the distro, not one that I added myself.

Again, screensavers work great with gnome as a regular user; it does NOT kick in if you are logged in as root.

I have NOT changed any settings, I am using the defaults.

[7]

groups.google.com link (http://groups.google.com/groups?q=gnome+screensaver+root&hl=en&selm=38EB56A1.1BA3CBBA%40virgin.net&rnum=2)

[evilcartman]

xhost +localhost Beware it may create security vulnerabilities!

[Strike]

You're still missing the point. There is hardly ever any real reason to run a GUI as root. The only real reason that I can think of is to test and see if this sort of thing is happening (like X only running for root for some reason), and to then fix it so normal users can use the GUI. It's not that what you are asking for is not doable, it's that it is the WRONG WAY of doing things.

[javierm]

HI guys-

How can I still be missing the point?

1. I know that it is a security risk and, if connected to the outside world, I am asking for trouble.

2. When it comes to working as root, there are a lot of things you can't do as a regular user.

For example:

1. Set up a dns, nis and nis+ server requires that I am root. Yes, I know that I can su to
root to do so, but my point is, I just wanted to know why do the developers of gnome chose to disable the screensaver for root while the kde developers did not.

2. Using ifconfig to change the ip addresses in my local network (such as the laptop that I bring from the office) as well as a variety of commands related to networking also require root permissions.

3. There are a lot of other reasons why I do it. Too long a list to mention, specially after the endless debate/argument in the shoot the breeze section.

My final question is:

Does anybody know why and how to disable. If I know that, then I would also learn how to enable that feature as well.

[sarah31]

I break my own rule by answering this post but if you bothered to look at the link that 7 provided you (granted it was with reference to a Red Hat distro) I believe that it had details in there to get you on the way to enabling your screensaver in Gnome as root.

Good luck!

[eXtremist]

Dude, no need to get hostile with us.. We were only offering some advice..

And, to reiterate what Strike said, logging in as root is just plain wrong.

I'm not telling you not to do it, because I don't care what you do. But, to use *nix effectively, a certian pragma should be followed. The root account was never meant to be used as an everyday login, although it CAN be.

And because you are not connected to an outside network doesn't mean you can't b0rk your system. One mistyped command, or a correctly typed command in the wrong directory can render your box unusable. *nix assumes 'root' knows what he is doing, so if you "cd / | rm -rf *" by mistake you're outta luck.

I learned that the hard way once.. I'm a very fast typer, and a lot of times I don't even read the output on the screen.. I was root, pwd was /etc.. I quickly typed "cd `/tmp" followed by "rm *".. There goes my system..no one to blame buy myself! (BTW, ` was a typo, I meant to hit ~)

Just warning you.. You may have gone 5 years without screwing something up, but when you do, you'll kick yourself!