startx fails with a fatal server error

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • startx fails and the error messages below are captured in the console screen.
xauth:  creating new authority file /home/USER/.serverauth.xxxx
xauth:  creating new authority file /home/USER/.Xauthority
xauth:  creating new authority file /home/USER/.Xauthority

Fatal server error:
PAM authentication failed, cannot start X server.
        Perhaps you do not have console ownership?

(EE)
Please consult the Red Hat, Inc. support
         at https://www.redhat.com/apps/support/
 for help.
(EE)
giving up.
xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X server
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error.

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 & 6

Subscriber exclusive content

A Red Hat subscription provides unlimited access to our knowledgebase of over 48,000 articles and solutions.

Current Customers and Partners

Log in for full access

Log In
Close

Welcome! Check out the Getting Started with Red Hat page for quick tours and guides for common tasks.