console hanging problem

[Arnold G. Gill]

     We have discovered a rather unique problem that is perplexing and a real
pain too.  Our IRIS is also used as the server for several X-Terminals that
we are using.  If a user happens to be logged onto both an X-Terminal *and*
the IRIS console, strange things start to happen.  If one uses the mouse
controlled logout on the console, all of the processes on the IRIS *and* the
X-Terminal are scrambled.  The console processes are logged out -- then the
console locks up completely and requires a reboot of the computer.  The
news_server shuts down, but nothing else takes over from there to allow new
logins.  If the news_server is reinvoked, the console works again and returns
to the point of logoff -- but does not allow one to log off at all, even when
the X-Terminal processes have been killed.

     Speaking of which, while the console is doing backflips, the processes
running on the X-Terminal will either terminate or be reset to root!!  Major
problem here, folks!

     Anyone got any ideas on how to fix this?  Basically, we don't want to
have to reboot the IRIS everytime something like this happens (we have
locked up the console using psview as well), because we expect to be using it
as a CPU cruncher over the summer.  Also, resetting simple user processes to
root sounds really BAD to me.  I need to know how to recover the console, or
how to prevent the normal console logoff procedure from killing itself and
wreaking havoc elsewhere.

     I would appreciate an answer direct to me, as I do not read this group
very often.  Thank you.
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|  Arnold Gill                        |   - If I hadn't wanted it heard,      |
|  Queen's University at Kingston     |         I wouldn't have said it.      |
|  InterNet:  gilla at qucdn.queensu.ca  |   - Astrophysician in training        |
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