I am using Suse 9.0 and when i run emacs from the terminal as a normal user it works fine, but if I try and run it as super user (to edit a config file) then i get the following error:

# emacs
Xlib: connection to ":0.0" refused by server
Xlib: No protocol specified

emacs: Cannot connect to X server :0.0.
Check the DISPLAY environment variable or use `-d'.
Also use the `xhost' program to verify that it is set to permit
connections from your machine.

What do I need to do to get it to work? I love emacs and like to use it to do all my editing. I'm having to use vi right now and I just don't get along with it very well.

You are not allowed to access the X server if you are another user (in this case root). To allow this, then before you go into su mode, type "xhost +". Alternatively, run it any other way (eg. I use KDE and have an app starter in my panel so I can type it there, or press Alt-F2 and type it there. You could have a desktop link too, as long as you run it somehow)

Actually, replying to your post made me check out some emacs options. An easier (and more secure) way of doing it is to use the command:
emacs -nw filename
to run emacs in the console window.

Thanks. I'll try it out when I get home.