Weird dhcpd problem

[Claude Jones]

On Sun October 9 2005 7:00 am, Jean-Louis Leroy wrote:
> I'm trying to install a DHCP server on a computer with FC4 installed
> from scratch.
>
> When I start the DHCP server with `service dhcpd start` or
> `/etc/init.d/dhcpd start` it fails and I get either "Can't open lease
> database /var/lib/dhcp/dhcpd.leases: Permission denied" or "Can't bind
> to dhcp address: Permission denied" in /var/log/messages.
>
> I tried investigating with lsof and netstat, without sucess; then I
> ran `dhcpd -f -d eth0` and that seems to work. At least the server
> starts without complaining (and says it succeeded to start in the
> syslog).
>
> Now for the surprise: next I tried `sh -x /etc/init.d/dhcpd start` and
> that starts the server successfully! And so does `sh /etc/init.d/dhcpd
> start`.
>
> What's going on?
>
> The dhcpd is the one that comes on the FC4 DVD. While googling around
> I saw mentions of problems with SELinux, so before someone asks yes
> it's enabled on my system (although I still have to learn what good I
> can draw from it ;-)).

If memory serves, selinux disabled dhcpd in the release version. Subsequent 
patches fixed the issue - are you patched up to date. If it's a fresh 
install, try disabling selinux - if that works, you probably can fix the 
issue by getting all the latest updates. 
-- 
Claude Jones
Bluemont, VA, USA