Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

1398.0. "My Session Manager can't start applications." by HPSRAD::SPEAKE (There is only one `S' in Speake) Thu Sep 07 1989 17:16

fI posted the following note in the DECterm conference earlier today.  Since
then I have re-installed DECwindows (FT2).  However, as I think about it, it
appears that this is more likely to be a Session Manager problem rather than a
DECterm problem.  (Though I see mostly the same names in both conferences.)

Further investigation would indicate that the Session Manager cannot start
_any_ application.  I tried Calculator and Puzzle from the menu.  Doesn't work.
The two applications can be started just fine interactively.

  The original note follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The session manager starts.  No DECterms are created (I asked for 1).
DECterms cannot be created from the `application' menu (nor can FileView).
The disk rattles a little and then stops but nothing appears.

While messing around trying to home in on the problem, I added
	$ run sys$system:decw$terminal_create
to decw$login.com.  This creates a DECterm window that is a subprocess of the
session manager (and, of course, does not run my login.com).  This has been
very useful but it isn't a permanent solution.

In decw$login.com I also have a "show logical decw$*" command.  The logical for
DECW$DECTERM_MAILBOX_node::0.0 does not show up.  When (by what) is this
created?

Quotas have been boosted to the levels that are adequate for the system when
it is a VAXcluster member.

There are no errors in DECW$SM.LOG.

The contents of sys$manager:server_0_error.log seems pretty mundane but here it
is-

  7-SEP-1989 09:03:36.9 Hello, this is the X server
 Dixmain address=1440c
 Now attach all known txport images
 in SetFontPath
 out SetFontPath
 GPX color/monochrome support loaded
 gpx$InitOutput address=109188
 Connection Prefix: len == 42
  7-SEP-1989 09:04:22.4 Now I call scheduler/dispatcher
  7-SEP-1989 09:04:25.6 Connection 9a100 is closed by Txport
  7-SEP-1989 09:04:51.1 Connection 9a138 is closed by Txport
  7-SEP-1989 09:05:31.1 Connection 9c478 is closed by Txport
  7-SEP-1989 09:12:27.7 Client 5 resets the server
   7-SEP-1989 09:12:28.6 GPX color/monochrome support loaded
 gpx$InitOutput address=109188
 <it then repeats from 'Now I call...' with different time stamps>

A little history - 

This is a cloned system.  I copied (w BACKUP) another nodes's VMS V5.2 system
disk to my local disk (I am being forced to extricate myself from an LAVc that
is moving away). I changed the appropriate SYSGEN parameters and rebooted. 
Everything major is working fine except DECwindows/DECterm (and FileView). 
DECW$QUOTE and DECW$BANNER are running.  DECWRITE is giving me the "Invalid
System Time" error even though it is the new image, but I digress. The system I
cloned from is working fine.

The hardware is a monochrome VAXstation 3500 with 16M and an RA70.

What do I look for now?  All suggestions and WAGs welcomed.

		Thanks,
		Tom

    The problem has been solved thanks to Bob Messenger.
    
    With DECwindows V2, you cannot have anything in your LOGIN.COM (or
    SYLOGIN.COM) that solicits input from the terminal.
    
    For a complete discussion, see note 387.8 in the 
    HANNAH::DECW$DISK:[PUBLIC]DECTERM conference.
    
    	Regards,
    	TS