[Konsole-devel] Bug#37872: marked as done (It is necessary to use PTY for Konsole?) by Lars Doelle <lars.doelle at on-line.de>

[Stephan Kulow]

Your message with subj: It is necessary to use PTY for Konsole?

George,

> I try to use kernel without Unix PTY, and Konsole doesn't started when
> login as non-root (gnome's console, tryed after this, directly say about
> PTY). Under root all is normal. 

To your problem: This indicates an installation issue. There is a 
konsole_grantpty program, which should handle the affair if you do not have 
UNIX PTYs. The program has to be installed root-suid. See the complains of 
the program starting a konsole from another terminal window.

> So, does it necessary to use /dev/pty for Konsole - and other KDE's
> applications, if such usage exists? Psevdoterminals is not feature that
> really needed for decktop, and even in kernel's help it says that "it is
> more safe does not use it". 

Well, konsole can live without Unix PTYs, but you have to install a root-suid 
program (konsole_grantpty) then. You could add the user to group pty, also, 
or chmod the device, if you are alone on the box.

UNIX ptys handle the rights much better, so no root-suid stuff is necessary 
which does not open a possible security hole.


To the subject: Ptys are necessary because any possible replacement as pipes 
for instance do not provide unix job management and terminal size control. 

The first becomes visible in the process list as the controling terminal of 
the process. It allows further to put jobs to background and back to 
foreground again (^Z, fg), and many other subtile stuff like signal passing. 
Ptys are needed for the desktop, as a terminal emulation emulates a terminal, 
and that is a device, so central to the unix os, that you find it hardwired 
in the DNA of the kernel down to the process structure.

Second becomes visible when you resize the terminal window running a "full 
screen" application like mc, emacs, vi, mutt, etc. These applications are not 
aware of X11 at all. The pseudoterminal devices provide the environment they 
expect and are needed for them in cases the terminal is remote (ssh) or a 
window on the desktop. Terminals are not obsoleted by GUIs, btw. Not all 
computers are PCs nor have a desktop (e.g. handys and other embedded systems).


Most comfortable way to fix your problem: recompile your kernel with unix pty 
support. This is out now since 3 or 4 years, and the older ptys are obsolete.

has caused the attached bug report to be marked as done.

This means that you claim that the problem has been dealt with.
If this is not the case it is now your responsibility to reopen the
bug report if necessary, and/or fix the problem forthwith.

(NB: If you are a system administrator and have no idea what I'm
talking about this indicates a serious mail system misconfiguration
somewhere.  Please contact me immediately.)

Stephan Kulow
(administrator, KDE bugs database)

Received: (at submit) by bugs.kde.org; 8 Feb 2002 13:42:12 +0000
Received: (qmail 22096 invoked by uid 33); 8 Feb 2002 13:42:12 -0000
Date: 8 Feb 2002 13:42:12 -0000
Message-ID: <20020208134212.22094.qmail at mail.kde.org>
To: submit at bugs.kde.org
Subject: It is necessary to use PTY for Konsole?
From: 5740 at mail.ru

Package:           konsole
Version:           1.0.2 (using KDE 2.2.2 )
Severity:          wishlist
Installed from:    ALT Linux
Compiler:          gcc version 2.96 20000731 (ALT Linux, build 2.96-ipl14mdk)
OS:                Linux (i586) release 2.4.17
OS/Compiler notes: 

I try to use kernel without Unix PTY, and Konsole doesn't started when login as non-root (gnome's console, tryed after this, directly say about PTY). Under root all is normal.

So, does it necessary to use /dev/pty for Konsole - and other KDE's applications, if such usage exists? Psevdoterminals is not feature that really needed for decktop, and even in kernel's help it says that "it is more safe does not use it".

Best regards,
George 

(Submitted via bugs.kde.org)
(Called from KBugReport dialog)