[TAG] lpr works for user not root in Basiclinux 2.1

[Sindi Keesan]

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/baslinux
Current version 3.40 based on Slackware 4.0 and uClibc

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/baslinux/bl2/index.htm
Previous version 2.1 based on Slackware 7.1

Basiclinux 2.1 comes with a 'user', 3.40 does not.

The author (Steven Darnold) and some highly experienced support mailing 
list members have not solved this problem in four years.

cat filename > /dev/lp0 works for root, so does gs used CLI without lpr, 
or pbmtolj from netpbm.

lpr used from Opera, lpr filename or even cat filename | lpr work for 
'user', but for root they do not send anything to the print queue (lpq 
shows no entries).  No error messages.  I just get another prompt.

Permissions for lpr are unchanged from Slackware 7.1:
-r-s--s--x 1 root lp
(Must be s to print as user).

lp0 is crw-r--r-- 1 root root

chmod a+w lp0 did not help (crw-rw-rw-) nor did chmod 777 (crwxrwxrwx). 
lp0 works for root except with lpr.

In order to work as user I have had to change permissions on /dev/null 
(w), ttyp* and ptyp* (rw), set suid XVESA and anything svgalib (links2, 
zgv, gs), make /var/lock writeable, make any scripts suid or executable as 
user, etc.  An education.  I can now suid user (or login as user), dial, 
load Xvesa, icewm, and rxvt and Opera and print as user.

ssh still says 'host key verification failed' though telnet works.

I would like to quit struggling with permissions every time I try to work 
as user, and be able to print as root.  I do know I should not work as 
root online but I am not running any servers while online with my modem.
If you scold me please explain why.

Also BL3.40 comes with only root not user, so it would be helpful to print 
as root.  Both distributions were designed to be used as root, and the 
author is therefore not interested in solving the problem.

No other distribution seems to have this problem.  I read your knowledge 
base and various HOWTOs.

Does lpr depend on some other program, library, or device that I need to 
change permissions for?  Can YOU print with lpr as root?

Back around 2002 you explained how to use a 2-floppy disk Basiclinux 1 
with mdacon when I had no modprobe or telinit.  I am typing this on my 
dual-head system on the amber TTL monitor.  You also helped me with OSS 
and I can now record midi files from the 1986 Yamaha electronic piano to 
libc5 Rosegarden.

Sindi Keesan