Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

firecat53 · 2011-07-10 01:18:01

Ok, I'm pulling my hair out here. I've one computer setup for 4 different users (one dwm, 3 on xfce). Pulseaudio is working for 2 users...the dwm and 1 of the xfce users. I can't for the life of me get sound working for the other 2 users!! Users are NOT logged in simultaneously...just one at a time. Here's what I've tried:
1. No one is in the audio group (per the pulseaudio perfect setup wiki)
2. ck-list-session shows a valid ACTIVE session for each user when they are logged in. ck-launch-session is used for each user (in .xinitrc)
3. I deleted the ~/.pulse and ~/.pulse.cookie, ~/.esd_auth, and /tmp/.esd-<user id> for each of the users where it doesn't work. These all get regenerated when they login, but pulseaudio still refuses to start for them...but works fine for the other 2 users!!
4. pulseaudio is launched via the start-pulseaudio-x11 command (this is automatic for the xfce users, and in .xinitrc for the dwm user)
5. Running the command 'start-pulseaudio-x11' from the terminal (when they are logged in to xfce) gives:

E: main.c: Daemon startup failed.

If run the command 'pulseaudio' I get:

E: module-combine.c: Invalid slave sink 'alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.5.iec958-stereo'
E: module.c: Failed to load  module "module-combine" (argument: "sink_name=combined slaves=alsa_output.pci-0000_02_0a.0.analog-stereo,alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.5.iec958-stereo"): initialization failed.
E: main.c: Module load failed.
E: main.c: Failed to initialize daemon.

The only modification to the pulseaudio configuration is adding a combined 'virtual' device in /etc/pulse/default.pa to send output from two soundcards simultaneously (one set of speakers hooked up to one, and the stereo system hooked up to the other). default.pa is here.

What am I missing?? Why would it be erroring on invalid slave sink for one user but not another??

Thanks,
Scott

Last edited by firecat53 (2011-07-10 01:24:19)

dahankzter · 2011-07-25 00:22:14

What if you run it directly?

~ $ pulseaudio --start

I do that by hand in Openbox and it seemingly works fine. I do however only have 2 shared users but if it persists for you I can try adding a few as an experiment.

firecat53 · 2011-07-25 13:54:11

Thanks for answering, but I gave up on that machine and sent it back to XP Between the random lockups, inability to wake up from suspend to ram and the pulseaudio issue, I just gave up on it. Ah well...it's the kids computer

Scott

Oh, and I tried every known way of starting pulseaudio with the same results for each. I should have deleted everything and started over.

Last edited by firecat53 (2011-07-25 13:56:47)

R00KIE · 2011-07-26 13:22:08

You could always add all users to the audio group since you say they will not be logged in at the same time. There is always more than one way to kill flies

firecat53 · 2011-07-26 15:07:52

I'll give that try next time I attempt to set it up I just wish I understood why I didn't work the way it's supposed to...

Thanks!
Scott

Arch Linux

#1 2011-07-10 01:18:01

Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

#2 2011-07-25 00:22:14

Re: Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

#3 2011-07-25 13:54:11

Re: Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

#4 2011-07-26 13:22:08

Re: Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

#5 2011-07-26 15:07:52

Re: Multiuser pulseaudio - works for 2 of 4 users

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