X server problems

[Cannon, Andrew]

Hi all,

I've been having these problems for a few months now and I just cannot seem
to figure out the problem.  We have a mixed Unix/Linux network, with users
using either local sessions or remote X sessions to log in to the systems.
A few months ago all of our Linux systems (1xRH8, 2xTaroonU2 and 3xNahantU2)
began to suffer local X-Windows errors.  It seemed to happen simultaneously
(but probably occurred over a week or so) on all of the Linux systems.  

The symptoms are that the user attempts to log in for a local session and
gets either greeted by a blue screen (I'm not joking, it is even the same
shade of blue too) and the system hangs for a few minutes before a message
comes up saying that "I cannot start the X server (your graphical
interface).  It is likely that it is not set up correctly.  Would you like
to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?"

The X.org output from our newest system (HP XW4300 workstation) is attached.
It is an Intel (unfortunately) P4 650 (HT enabled) with a nVidia Quattro 280
graphics card.  Note that it is looking for the font.  I can sometimes, say
every other attempt, get the X server to start up by logging in as root
(remotely) and typing "/sbin/service xfs restart"  This works every other
time the Xserver fails to start, but when the server doesn't start, I I have
to perform a reboot.  Typing "startx" as root starts a session, which stops
when root logs out of that session.  We need to have the X server running
due to the remote log in sessions (which, due to the lack of the X session
means that XDMCP isn't running).  

Is there any way that I can start the X server without rebooting, or running
X as root all the time? 

Has anyone else come across this problem?

Due to the near simultaneous occurrence of this problem, is it possible that
we've had an unwelcome visitor access our systems?

TIA.

Andy

 <<Xorg.0.log>> 

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