[SOLVED] login roulette

luser · 2018-12-18 22:20:14

Hi All,

Still noobish here, but I've installed Arch five times over the last two years, so I have some idea of what I'm doing. However, my sixth project has hit a road bump the size of an African ant-hill.

I've surmounted a few issues with it, getting secure boot working, sddm running, and Network manager working, but I cannot reliably log in to the command line, and I can't seem to log into sddm to start plasma at all!

When I attempt to log in to a terminal (using ctrl-alt-f2 from the sddm login screen) it may take 9 or 10 or more tries, but eventually, it works. Sometimes I get lucky, and it only takes 3 tries. Trying to log in from the sddm welcome screen fails every time so far. I am at a loss to explain what's going on. I have tried different keyboards, but it doesn't resolve the issue.

Please tell me what information I can provide that will help others diagnose and resolve this issue.

In case this helps, here's some output:

output of journalctl -b | grep -i login


Dec 18 20:08:33 random9 systemd[1]: Reached target Login Prompts.
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd[1]: Starting Login Service...
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: New seat seat0.
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event2 (Power Button)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event1 (Power Button)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event0 (Sleep Button)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event4 (Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event5 (Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard System Control)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd-logind[448]: Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event3 (AT Translated Set 2 keyboard)
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 systemd[1]: Started Login Service.
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 audit[1]: SERVICE_START pid=1 uid=0 auid=4294967295 ses=4294967295 msg='unit=systemd-logind comm="systemd" exe="/usr/lib/systemd/systemd" hostname=? addr=? terminal=? res=success'
Dec 18 20:08:34 random9 sddm[493]: Logind interface found
Dec 18 20:08:36 random9 systemd-logind[448]: New session c1 of user sddm.
Dec 18 20:09:40 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:09:42 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:09:50 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:09:53 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:09:58 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:00 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:05 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:07 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:12 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:15 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:20 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:22 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:28 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:30 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:36 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:38 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:43 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:45 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:52 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:10:53 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:10:59 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:11:01 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:11:15 random9 login[578]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:11:17 random9 login[578]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:11:30 random9 login[578]: FAILED LOGIN 2 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:11:49 random9 login[578]: TOO MANY LOGIN TRIES (3) FROM tty2 FOR user9, Have exhausted maximum number of retries for service
Dec 18 20:11:49 random9 login[578]: PAM 2 more authentication failures; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:12:01 random9 login[579]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:12:03 random9 login[579]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:12:13 random9 login[579]: FAILED LOGIN 2 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:12:24 random9 login[579]: TOO MANY LOGIN TRIES (3) FROM tty2 FOR user9, Have exhausted maximum number of retries for service
Dec 18 20:12:24 random9 login[579]: PAM 2 more authentication failures; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:12:38 random9 login[580]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:12:40 random9 login[580]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:12:51 random9 login[580]: FAILED LOGIN 2 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:13:05 random9 login[580]: TOO MANY LOGIN TRIES (3) FROM tty2 FOR user9, Have exhausted maximum number of retries for service
Dec 18 20:13:05 random9 login[580]: PAM 2 more authentication failures; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:13:23 random9 login[581]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:13:25 random9 login[581]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:14:26 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:14:28 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:14:35 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:14:37 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:14:43 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:14:45 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:14:51 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:14:53 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:14:58 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:14:59 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:00 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:06 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:08 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:13 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:15 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:21 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:22 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:27 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:29 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:33 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:35 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:40 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:41 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:47 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:48 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:53 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:15:55 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:15:59 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:01 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:05 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:07 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:11 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:12 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:17 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:19 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:23 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:24 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:28 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:30 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:34 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:16:36 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:16:50 random9 login[584]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:16:52 random9 login[584]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:17:18 random9 login[648]: pam_unix(login:session): session opened for user root by LOGIN(uid=0)
Dec 18 20:17:18 random9 systemd-logind[448]: New session 2 of user root.
Dec 18 20:17:18 random9 login[648]: ROOT LOGIN ON tty3
Dec 18 20:17:37 random9 login[584]: FAILED LOGIN 2 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:18:09 random9 login[664]: pam_unix(login:auth): authentication failure; logname=LOGIN uid=0 euid=0 tty=tty2 ruser= rhost=  user=user9
Dec 18 20:18:11 random9 login[664]: FAILED LOGIN 1 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:18:28 random9 login[664]: FAILED LOGIN 2 FROM tty2 FOR user9, Authentication failure
Dec 18 20:18:46 random9 login[664]: pam_unix(login:session): session opened for user user9 by LOGIN(uid=0)
Dec 18 20:18:46 random9 systemd-logind[448]: New session 4 of user user9.
Dec 18 20:18:46 random9 login[664]: LOGIN ON tty2 BY user9
Dec 18 20:19:04 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:06 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:13 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:15 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:21 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:24 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:31 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:33 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:40 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:42 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:49 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:19:51 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:19:58 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:20:00 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:20:10 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:20:12 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:20:18 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:20:21 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed
Dec 18 20:20:26 random9 sddm[493]: Message received from greeter: Login
Dec 18 20:20:28 random9 sddm-greeter[522]: Message received from daemon: LoginFailed

Note that at 20:18:46 I was able to login as user9 on tty2, but I was never able to login with the sddm-greeter. root was able to login without multiple tries, but that's not typical. root tends to have the same issue logging in; many tries are required, but perhaps not as many as user9.

Any suggestions?

Last edited by luser (2018-12-19 18:13:28)

seth · 2018-12-19 10:08:14

What happens if you vastly simplify the password (preferably to a single char w/ a US layout keycode)?

luser · 2018-12-19 18:12:07

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. It helped.

Here's what happened: I ran

# systemctl status -l shadow

and it reported a problem with a different user not having a home folder, so I created one for it. I checked the status of shadow again, and it came up clean, but I still couldn't log in. So, I followed your suggestion, and then I was able to log in!!! Then I changed the password back to the original value, rebooted, and again, I was able to log in!

I've rebooted multiple times now, and the original password has worked as it should, so I am marking this as being solved.

I'm thinking that resolving the other user's home folder may have been important, but perhaps not. Changing the password to one character, did allow me to log in from sddm-greeter without rebooting, so it was certainly useful. Perhaps it cleaned up some configuration issue or corruption; I don't fully understand what resolved the problem, but adding the other user's home folder and changing the password were the only two changes made before things started working properly. It's nice that I could change the password back to what it was when it didn't work, too!

If you have any other insights into what was going on, please share them.

Thanks again. You do a lot to help people, and always manage to remain polite. I thoroughly understand how difficult it can be to provide support, which I must do for work in the Windows realm.

Last edited by luser (2018-12-20 18:03:28)

Arch Linux

#1 2018-12-18 22:20:14

[SOLVED] login roulette

#2 2018-12-19 10:08:14

Re: [SOLVED] login roulette

#3 2018-12-19 18:12:07

Re: [SOLVED] login roulette

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