su root is not accepting password after timeout

[lace]

root@CAPCFBT4:#
root@CAPCFBT4:# timed out waiting for input: auto-logout
capcadmin@CAPCFBT4:$ su - root
Password:
otsu: Authentication failure
Sorry.
$
$ su - root
Password:
ot
su: Authentication failure
Sorry.
$ ot
-sh: ot: command not found
Even after giving the right password for root,password is not accepted
It was observed very randomnly after auto logout of Linux amchine
???????

[Peter Godron]

Hi,
and welcome to the forums !

Can you please try to su to root, but without the '-'.
So: su root

Could there be a problem with the .profile file for root ?

Please also read:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#33 on how to reward any useful answers given to your questions.

[Anshumali]

If it is trusted, try login at console. ..

[Wyman Wong Man Wai]

>> It was observed very randomnly after auto logout of Linux amchine

You are using BASH on a linux box?
HP-UX does have bash, though.

Look for your BASH start up files, /etc/profile, ~/.bash_profile, ~/.bash_login, ~/.profile, ~/.bashrc. Find out export TMOUT=?? . TMOUT is the variable to enable and set timeout value.

Also look for ot around TMOUT. I think there is some codes keep pumping out ot that mess you. Try to fix it.

[OldSchool]

root@CAPCFBT4:#
root@CAPCFBT4:# timed out waiting for input: auto-logout
capcadmin@CAPCFBT4:$ su - root
Password:
otsu: Authentication failure <---- where did the "ot" come from
Sorry.
$
$ su - root
Password:
ot <----- same as above,
su: Authentication failure
Sorry.
$ ot
-sh: ot: command not found


it *almost* appears as if the terminal definition is incorrect.

a) are you using a terminal emulator?
b) if so, what happens if you log completely off the log back in and attempt the "su - root"? does it succede?
c) are you typing "ot" at the password prompt? or accidentally hitting "enter/return" then the passwd?

[OldSchool]

also, when it fails, run the following

which su

ls -l `which su`