Hi everyone,

I have been using Redhat 8 for about a week, never having used Linux before and have encountered a strange problem.

When I try to install RPM packages and use the package manager the screen just disapears after reading system headings, I checked the system log and found the following entry that seems to be the relevent problem:

Nov 17 12:58:37 localhost userhelper: pam_timestamp: timestamp file `/var/run/sudo/Doug/unknown:root' is too old, disallowing access to redhat-config-packages for UID 500

This is strange as it is mere seconds after I have entered my root password, does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Thanks for your help,

Doug

Two ways:
- use sudo's "visudo" command and add var/change timestamp_timeout to 30 should change asking for passwd to 30 mins, or 0 for always ask.
- grep /etc/pam.d for files including "pam_timestamp" in the stack and comment out the rule. Less recommended, because you loose using the module in the stack.

Hi,

Thankyou for your response, it is greatly appreciated, however I'm very new to this and havn't really got to grips with a lot of the concepts in Linux, would it be possible for you to give me a step by step run through of how to make the changes you suggest?

Thanks again,

Doug

No problem. (All commands shown between quotes, do not use outer quotes on actual execution)
Approach one:
Log in as root user. Execute command "visudo". This starts up the sudo resource editor (vi). Type "/timestamp_timeout".
If it returns not found, add the directive:
go to top of file: press control+u (repeat until there), type "i",
now type "timestamp_timeout=30", press escape, now key in ":wq" which will save the file and quit visudo.
If it is found then press escape, move cursor over variable, erase value by pressing "del" or "x", type "i", type value: "30", press escape, now key in ":wq" which will save the file and quit visudo. Any unintentional deletes can be restored pressing escape and the "u".

Approach two:
Log in as root user. Execute "cd /etc/pam.d", execute "find . -type f | xargs grep pam_timestamp". If it returns it will have shown a list of lite names containing the text "pam_timestamp" (or not). If it has, then execute "vi <filename>" where filename is a file from the list find/grep returned.
If you've read approach one by know you know how to edit files with the text editor vi. To comment a rule out, insert a hash mark (that's "#") in front of the line.

Hi again,

Thanks for your help, I no longer get the error messge I previously got in the sytem log (it says access was allowed :-) ) but the package manager still vanishes at the same point, I have this message in the sytem log now:

Nov 18 11:04:08 localhost kernel: parport0: PC-style at 0x378 [PCSPP,TRISTATE,EPP]

I used method 1 that you described if you need to know that, thanks for your help,

Doug McMahon

btw I also have a red exclamation mark next to this package in the sytem log Package section: ksymoops-2.4.5-1.i386.rpm

I'm not sure if this is relevent

That's the parallel port driver (module) loading, it's no error.
Ksymoops is the package to help you debug kernel oopses (like when something goes VERY wrrronnkk). Try to install it manually (read "man rpm") and see what errors it's giving and post it to a new thread since its OT (off topic) to your current thread.