Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!shadooby!ginosko!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!lll-winken!arisia!sgi!shinobu!odin!ramoth.esd.sgi.com!msc
From: msc@ramoth.esd.sgi.com (Mark Callow)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Re: news_server set uid to root
Message-ID: <1115@odin.SGI.COM>
Date: 25 Oct 89 22:26:14 GMT
References: <1304@uvm-gen.UUCP>
Sender: news@odin.SGI.COM
Reply-To: msc@ramoth.esd.sgi.com (Mark Callow)
Organization: Silicon Graphics Inc., Entry Systems Division
Lines: 13

The news_server is suid root so it can mpin one of its pages to prevent
being swapped out and so it can set itself a non-degrading priority.
If you run it non-suid root it still works, as you've observed, but
you suffer a small performance loss.

To run a gl program behind the console window will require "massive
system hacks".  Also when you see release 3.2 with pandora (visual
login) you won't want your gl background anymore.
--
From the TARDIS of Mark Callow
msc@ramoth.sgi.com, ...{ames,decwrl}!sgi!msc
"There is much virtue in a window.  It is to a human being as a frame is to
a painting, as a proscenium to a play.  It strongly defines its content."