There is a strange line in the file /etc/group
 

Trying to log in as root is failing for me - i get the error suggested above

The file /etc/group reads
root:x:0:
bin:x:1:daemon
daemon:x:2:
sys:x:3:
tty:x:5:
disk:x:6:
lp:x:7:
www:x:8:
kmem:x:9:
wheel:x:10:
mail:x:12:
news:x:13:
uucp:x:14:bootsy
shadow:x:15:
dialout:x:16:bootsy
audio:x:17:bootsy
floppy:x:19:
cdrom:x:20:
console:x:21:
utmp:x:22:
at:x:25:
public:x:32:
video:x:33:bootsy
games:x:40:
xok:x:41:
trusted:x:42:
modem:x:43:
ftp:x:49:
postfix:x:51:
maildrop:x:59:
man:x:62:
sshd:x:65:
ntadmin:x:71:
distcc:x:101:
nobody:x:65533:nobody
nogroup:x:65534:nobody
users:x:100:

using Suse 9.1, kernel 2.6.5-7.111

was trying to fix some issues with jack and ardour as per this link here

can someone pls tell what is wrong with the above and how I can fix it now that I can't log in as root. I can login as root through a terminal so am hoping that may help...

"There is a strange line in the file /etc/group"

The only line that looks even a little strange is:
distcc:x:101:

That line was not created during the SuSE install but otherwise it seems OK to me. Did you put it in by hand? So if you can edit /etc/group from a terminal as root then try deleting the distcc line. If that doesn't work then you can put distcc back the way it is.

---------------------------
Steve Stites

Thanks Steve

Unfortunately it didn't work

btw
If I try to login as root it throws me straight to Yast. If I close yast it throws me straight back to the login screen.

Take a look at your /etc/passwd file and check to see what your root user has for a shell. It should look something like this:

root:x:0:0::/root:/bin/bash

What you describe makes me think it would look something similar to:

root:x:0:0::/root:/sbin/yast

The other thing I noticed is my group file has two colons after the group name instead of one.

root::x:0
bin::1:root,bin,daemon
daemon::2:root,bin,daemon

etc, etc, etc

distcc is the distributed c++ compiler. It allows a compiler to exist on one computer and be available for all others on the lan.

Thanks for your replies n0xvb & apolinsky

My /etc/passwd file shows

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

maybe it's suse thing but I've got single colons instead of double in both /etc/passwd and /etc/group as you have n0xvb.

Any suggestions from here - should I just reinstall from scratch or is there an easier way out (I hope!?!?)

Just tried running the System repair utility on the install dvd - and every time it hangs on he check of installed packages at 26/205. Does anyone know what package 26 is?

I think you need 2 colons after the group name in the group file. Here is what each line should contain:

<group name> : <group password> : <gid> : <user>,<user>,<user>

if you have something between the first and second delimiters then that becomes the encrypted password for the group.

I think your system is expecting a password tied to the groups and when it gets no password it fails.

try looking at the man pages:

They explain the format very well

Thanks again n0xvb

The double colons didn't do anything - in the end I have decided to go for another reinstall. I've tried so many things now (and silly me haven't recorded them) that I can't remember all the changes I've made - it could be anything now...

Such are the trials and tribulations for a linux noobie - playing with a very flexible system can be dangerous for those playing far beyond their current capabilities...

That is true, but on the other side of that coin? The best low level knowledge of your system, and the ability to learn and make it just the way you want.