[Software] non-root user authentication issue

Hi,
I've found numerous posts over the years related to this, but none solves my issue. I've been using Debian for a long time, and a couple of years ago I copied my installation to a laptop. Recently I noticed that I can't shutdown or restart the laptop as my normal (non-root) user using the graphical interface in XFCE-the buttons are greyed out. I'm mainly running stable, with some backports and a few other packages from elsewhere. Lightdm, XFCE4, systemd.

I've spent ages comparing the two set ups, but can't find the cause. I've even tried reinstalling several key packages.The user is in the same groups, packages installed essentially the same, can't find config file differences etc. I'm booting from each SSD on the same machine now, to speed up making comparisons-so no hardware difference.

Any help gratefully received!

I've identified some problems, something to do with systemd, dbus, polkit-1 (all these commands as the normal non-root user):
systemctl --user status
Failed to read server status: Process org.freedesktop.systemd1 exited with status 1

echo $DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
unix:path=/tmp/dbus-Sct7MGNYUP,guid=36118d3f7eb7292dcfdfdb4767bb4a28

echo $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR
{no dir returned}

loginctl show-session $XDG_SESSION_ID
EnableWallMessages=yes
NAutoVTs=6
KillUserProcesses=no
RebootToFirmwareSetup=no
RebootToBootLoaderMenu=18446744073709551615
IdleHint=yes
IdleSinceHint=1740327456775886
IdleSinceHintMonotonic=12903899
DelayInhibited=shutdown:sleep
InhibitDelayMaxUSec=30s
UserStopDelayUSec=10s
HandlePowerKey=poweroff
HandlePowerKeyLongPress=ignore
HandleRebootKey=reboot
HandleRebootKeyLongPress=poweroff
HandleSuspendKey=suspend
HandleSuspendKeyLongPress=hibernate
HandleHibernateKey=hibernate
HandleHibernateKeyLongPress=ignore
HandleLidSwitch=suspend
HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
HoldoffTimeoutUSec=30s
IdleAction=ignore
IdleActionUSec=30min
PreparingForShutdown=no
PreparingForSleep=no
Docked=yes
LidClosed=no
OnExternalPower=yes
RemoveIPC=yes
RuntimeDirectorySize=3356872704
RuntimeDirectoryInodesMax=819549
InhibitorsMax=8192
NCurrentInhibitors=3
SessionsMax=8192
NCurrentSessions=0
StopIdleSessionUSec=infinity

Whereas on the other set up I get:

Id=2
User=1000
Name={normal-user}
Timestamp=Sun 2025-02-23 12:47:33 GMT
TimestampMonotonic=23374334
VTNr=7
Seat=seat0
Display=:0
Remote=no
Service=lightdm
Desktop=xfce
Scope=session-2.scope
Leader=10340
Audit=2
Type=x11
Class=user
Active=yes
State=active
IdleHint=no
IdleSinceHint=0
IdleSinceHintMonotonic=0
LockedHint=no

On the system with the problem:
---------------------------------------------------
Xfce power manager version 4.18.1
With policykit support
With network manager support
---------------------------------------------------
Can suspend: False
Can hibernate: False
Authorised to suspend: False
Authorised to hibernate: False
Authorised to shutdown: False
Has battery: False
Has brightness panel: False
Has power button: True
Has hibernate button: True
Has sleep button: True
Has battery button: True
Has LID: False

and:
xfce4-power-manager -q

Then run it in debug mode:

xfce4-power-manager --no-daemon --debug
(xfce4-power-manager:14443): libnotify-WARNING **: 20:05:21.850: Failed to connect to proxy
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:289] xfpm_polkit_init_data(): Using unix session polkit subject
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.power-off', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.power-off is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.reboot', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0, '>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.reboot is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.suspend', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0, >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:209] xfpm_power_check_polkit_auth(): using logind suspend backend
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.suspend', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0, >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 14443>, 'start-time': <uint64 8791>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=FALSE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Prev Timeout: 600 / New Timeout: 600
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF)

(xfce4-power-manager:14443): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 20:05:21.903: could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode

TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 233 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 232 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 244 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 238 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 237 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:650] xfpm_manager_inhibit_sleep_systemd(): Inhibiting systemd sleep: handle-power-key:handle-suspend-key:handle-hibernate-key:handle-lid-switch

(xfce4-power-manager:14443): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 20:05:21.905: Unable to inhibit systemd sleep: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.AccessDenied: Permission denied

** (xfce4-power-manager:14443): WARNING **: 20:05:21.905: No outputs have backlight property

(xfce4-power-manager:14443): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 20:05:21.908: Failed to get keyboard max brightness level : GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod: Object does not exist at pa>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:237] xfpm_polkit_free_data(): Destroying Polkit data

On the working system:
---------------------------------------------------
Xfce power manager version 4.18.1
With policykit support
With network manager support
---------------------------------------------------
Can suspend: True
Can hibernate: True
Authorised to suspend: True
Authorised to hibernate: True
Authorised to shutdown: True
Has battery: False
Has brightness panel: False
Has power button: True
Has hibernate button: True
Has sleep button: True
Has battery button: True
Has LID: False


xfce4-power-manager:12201): libnotify-WARNING **: 20:22:13.521: Failed to connect to proxy
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:289] xfpm_polkit_init_data(): Using unix session polkit subject
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.power-off', @a{ss} {}, uint32 >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.power-off is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.reboot', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0, >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.reboot is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.suspend', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0,>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate', @a{ss} {}, uint32 >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:209] xfpm_power_check_polkit_auth(): using logind suspend backend
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.suspend', @a{ss} {}, uint32 0,>
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.suspend is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:345] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): polkit request: (('unix-process', {'pid': <uint32 12201>, 'start-time': <uint64 11560>}), 'org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate', @a{ss} {}, uint32 >
TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:366] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate is authorized=TRUE
TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1449] xfpm_update_blank_time(): Prev Timeout: 600 / New Timeout: 600
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF)

(xfce4-power-manager:12201): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 20:22:13.536: could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode

TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 233 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 232 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 244 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_BATTERY)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 238 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_UP)
TRACE[xfpm-button.c:180] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 237 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_KBD_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN)
TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:650] xfpm_manager_inhibit_sleep_systemd(): Inhibiting systemd sleep: handle-power-key:handle-suspend-key:handle-hibernate-key:handle-lid-switch

** (xfce4-power-manager:12201): WARNING **: 20:22:13.545: No outputs have backlight property

(xfce4-power-manager:12201): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 20:22:13.548: Failed to get keyboard max brightness level : GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMethod: Object does not exis

Statistics: Posted by artyb — 2025-02-23 16:59 — Replies 1 — Views 65

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