unix hangs while logging on

[Deepti Tewari]

Hi,
Some times on my unix (solaris) system it so happens that
when i try to login as a non root user then it
hangs i.e. the prompt never comes.
but at the same time it allows me to login as root.
has anybody faced this problem?
thanks and regards
Deepti

[Frank Carver]

There are lots of reasons why this might happen. Check all the file permissions on the user's home directory, the specified login shell, the shell start up scripts, any external programs run by the shell start up scripts.
For more information, try logging in as root, then do
su - user
which should attempt to run all the shell start up code for that user, and maybe give some more useful error messages.

[Deepti Tewari]

Hi Frank,
thanks for the prompt reply.
but this error is coming even if i use
"su - user"
command from root to log to a user's account.
and this is happening for every non root unix user.
thanks
Deepti
[ June 14, 2002: Message edited by: Deepti Tewari ]

[Frank Carver]

SO have you looked at the file permissions and scripts as I suggested?
It sounds a lot like either (1) the users don't have the right access permissions on their home directories or (2) some script or program which is exectred by the login scripts is hanging or looping.

[Deepti Tewari]

Hi again,
still don't know the reason
but rebooting the machine solved the problem.
and as per your suggestion in another post (chmod of /home problem)of mine i've downloaded the solaris admin guide from sun's site.
hope it will help me.
thanks for your help
Deepti