[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: sane only detects scanner as root -- device ownership

[Bryan J. Smith]

On Tue, 2004-09-14 at 22:40, Terry wrote:
> Just installed:
> sane-frontends-1.0.10   
> sane-backends-1.0.10     &    xsane-0.96
> OS=RH9  scanner=Epson Perfection 1260
> xsane will only detect and access scanner when ran as root.
> What could cause this?
> and / or
> What's the best way to trouble shoot this?

Then only root has access to the device.  This is basic and default UNIX
security at work.  To change this, you must change the access on the
device.

There are a variety of ways to give a regular user access to a device. 
Typically this is done proper on kernel 2.4 distributions (at least Red
Hat) by modifying PAM-related configuration files that grant access to
the user that logs in locally (typically to local X Display :0).

Try:  http://www.google.com/linux?q=Red+Hat+PAM+Device+Ownership  

-- Bryan

P.S.  Newer Red Hat Community Linux (CL) releases with kernel 2.6 like
Fedora Core 2 (CL4.0) have hotplug support and far better "plug'n play"
integration for FireWire and USB technologies.  Red Hat has announced
several improvements for Fedora Core 3 (CL4.1), with FC3 Test 2 (Test is
the direct equivalent of Beta of the old Red Hat Linux release cycle)
being released the beginning of next week.

I've personally found my "plug'n play" desktop experience to be far
better with CL4 than previous CL3 releases.  This includes SANE support
(and XSANE access) and DV capture/editing, to a variety of USB, PCI
(overlay) and FireWire devices.  Consider upgrading at least one system
to test, especially once Fedora Core 3 (CL4.1) is released.  Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 4 (EL4) will soon follow it.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith                                  b.j.smith at ieee.org 
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