CDE login problems...

[Jonathan Caplette_1]

Hi guys!

I've received 5 brand new HP Visualize B2600 with HP-UX 11i pre-loaded... when I boot the system for the first time, it prompt to me if i'm networked, my hostname, IP, DNS, NIS, etc... I've entered all the correct value for that... It finished to boot, and prompt me with the CDE login screen. I logon as root, and then the system prompt me that message box:

The desktop messaging system could not be started.

To correct the problem:

1. Choose [OK] to return to the login screen.
2. Select Failsafe Session from the login screen's option menu and log in.
3. Check to see that the desktop is properly installed, the hostname is correct (/etc/hosts) and that the network is properly configured.

I've check for the network,and every thing seems ok, I can ping, telnet or rlogin the new system, and from the new system... But the thing is that I'm not familar with CDE... Somebody know what can I do???

Thanks!
Jonathan

[Alex Glennie]

If DNS is involved I'd suggest you edit nsswitch.conf to use files first and ensure your /etc/hosts file contains the correct entries.

Also check using nslookup hostname and ip address look for inconsistencies.

how longs the hostname ... if greater than 8 characters decrease it !

try using CDE diagnostic : /usr/contrib/bin/dr_dt and examine the outputs ...

detail the hostname, contents of resolve.conf, etc.hosts and nsswitch.conf togehter with nslookup details would help ..... does sound like a hostname resolution issue though ....

[S.K. Chan]

It's usually due to name resolution or some other problem related to network. There are many possibilities. First thing you would do is examine the log files..
o /var/dt/Xerrors
o $HOME/.dt/errorlog
Better still run ..
# /usr/contrib/bin/X11/dr_dt > outputlog
and see if you can spot any error in "outputlog". The "dr_dt" is like a CDE diagnostic tool. I'm attaching a document for you to troubleshoot further.

[Jean-Louis Phelix]

Hello,

I have found some documents about an incorrect /etc/netconfig file. Could you compare yours to /usr/newconfig/etc/netconfig ?

Is your loopback correctly configured in /etc/hosts ?

Regards,

Jean-Louis.

[Kellogg Unix Team]

Hi Jonathan,

In order to debug, choose, failsafe or command-line login option. Once logged in, go to ~/.dt directory and look for startlog and errorlog file. Also read ~/.dtprofile file which mentions not putting terminal-emulator related and interactive commands in your dot(initialization) files.

HTH
...Manjeet

[Jonathan Caplette_1]

Ok...

My hostname was 10 caracters, so I shortered it to 8 my hostname is now "cstrux53". Now here is my hosts file:

sun001. sun001
cstrux53
127.0.0.1 localhost loopback

I don't have and nsswitch.conf file...

I'm gonna check the error logs....

[Alex Glennie · Accepted solution]

I suspect the 12 characters was shooting you in the foot ... I'd advise you re run set_parms and set all network details again or use the following info :

Because a component of CDE (ToolTalk) uses the uname system call while
the remainder of the system uses gethostname, a UUCP nodename must be
specified. Normally, this is automatically set to the value of the
hostname. However, the maximum length of a UUCP nodename is 8
characters. If a hostname is longer than 8 characters, such as
"verylongname", a shorter UUCP nodename must be specified separately.

1. Do this by adding a line in /etc/rc.config.d/netconf such as:

NODENAME="short"

2. You will also need to edit /etc/hosts and add this as an alias
to your hostname. This is very important as CDE will not work
without it. An example entry might be:

123.4.5.6 verylongname short

If you are using DNS and do not wish to have DNS entries for
these "short" nodenames, you must also configure the system
to use /etc/hosts before using DNS to resolve names and IP addresses.
This can be accomplished by using an "/etc/nsswitch.conf" file with
"files" before "dns" and/or "nis" on the hosts
line. An example file that can be used may be found at:

/usr/examples/nsswitch/nssw.filesdns

It can be put into place with:

cp -p /usr/examples/nsswitch/nssw.filedns /etc/nsswitch.conf

3. Finally, change your hostname entries in /var/adm/inetd.sec to your
IP address, for example:

Change line:

dtspc allow 127.0.0.1 verylongname

To read:

dtspc allow 127.0.0.1 123.4.5.6

4. Reboot the machine (/sbin/reboot will do).
ALT KEYWORDS

[Jonathan Caplette_1]

everyone, here is the ~/.dt/errorlog

*** ERROR(4): dtsession: PID 4116: Thu Oct 17 11:16:20 2002
The ToolTalk session server (ttsession) could not be started. This
indicates that either ToolTalk is not installed or that it is not
installed correctly on this machine. Please see your System
Administrator.
*** [268]


and the output file of dr_dt command.... I've attached it...

Check them and maybe you'll have a better clue on what my problem is..

[Alex Glennie]

Jonathan,

got to go soon ... checked dr_dr and errors : it's hostname resolution still I'm 99% certain :

I'd suggest you take note of my 2 suggestions : namely setup CDE to use long hostnames or rerun set_parms then check /etc/hosts contents and alter your nsswitch.conf to use files first ...

[Jonathan Caplette_1]

Thanks Alex...

It was really an hostname problem... I thought that if I changed the hostname manually it would do the same thing than rerunning set_parms... seems not... as soon as I've rerun set_parms it work perfectly with a shorter hostname!! :)

Thanks a lot
ciao!