The "startx" command run from the console in runlevel 3 fails with PAM authentication error

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • Running the command startx from the console in runlevel 3 fails with the following error message:
Fatal server error: 
PAM authentication failed, cannot start X server. 
Perhaps you do not have console ownership?
  • The problem is observed only when running startx after a "su" to another user or over ssh.
$ su - user  
Password:

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.5
  • xorg-x11-server

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