Running irc as non-root

[Kx499]

I cannot seem to figure out how to run my irc (using pidgin) client as a non-root user. Every time I get errors about not being able to access the display. I feel like this has to do with the fact that a regular user can't access root's x session, but not sure because i am far from a linux guru.

Any ideas how to run pidgin as another user from BT5?

I've tried su and sudo with no luck, here is the error message I get:

No protocol specified

(Pidgin:3361): Gdk-CRITICAL **: gdk_display_get_name: assertion `GDK_IS_DISPLAY (display)' failed
Pidgin 2.6.6

** (Pidgin:3361): WARNING **: cannot open display: unse

[snafu777]

What if anything does this have to do with Back|Track?

[clone]

i cannot duplicate your particular problem with pidgin 2.6.6., but why not use xchat or other client anyway for irc? apt-get install xchat.

pidgin isn't very great for an irc client.

[Kx499]

So how are you running it as another user while logged in as root?

[cgelici]

I am able to run pidgin as root just fine. With MSN, Gtalk and IRC active. And I like it too. Maybe purge and reinstall ?

[Kx499]

I can run pidgin as root, but I want to force it to run as another user other than root. So, I am logged in as root. I create a new user named "ircuser" and thought i could do a "su - ircuser pidgin", but I get the errors above. Any thoughts on how to do this?

[longjidin]

ermm......i used the firefox addon called ChatZilla https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...don/chatzilla/ its run from firefox direct

happy hunting!!!

[cgelici]

I can run pidgin as root, but I want to force it to run as another user other than root. So, I am logged in as root. I create a new user named "ircuser" and thought i could do a "su - ircuser pidgin", but I get the errors above. Any thoughts on how to do this?

Why not login as the normal user ? Defies the usability of backtrack but maybe pidgin will work then

[nmcbride]

The issue comes down to the other user not having access to your x server.

Some people will suggest you do something like 'xhost +' but that is pretty unsecure.
Use sudo to run the program as your other user and then configure your /etc/sudoers file to pass along the XAUTHORITY.

Or if you want to have some fun before you run it allow the other user to use your magic cookie for the x server and you'll be good to go.

I did something similiar where I made a "nonet" user who had all of his traffic blocked completely in iptables via uid. If I wanted to run something making sure it couldn't phone home
I would use sudo to run it as the "nonet" user using my magic cookie to use the current x server session.

nmcbride

[voidnecron]

I can run pidgin as root, but I want to force it to run as another user other than root. So, I am logged in as root. I create a new user named "ircuser" and thought i could do a "su - ircuser pidgin", but I get the errors above. Any thoughts on how to do this?

If I recall correct, the command should be

su - ircuser -c pidgin

But check if the ircuser has a valid home and the pidgin files are writable by just logging in as ircuser and startx/pidgin.