Update Manager does not display fingerprint authentication dialog

[Ramon Casha]

Binary package hint: update-manager

I have an HP Compaq 6710b laptop, which has an integrated Authentec fingerprint reader. I have set up libpam-fprint to do the authentication, and it works ok for logins, sudo and most applications. However, update-manager does not display any window to prompt for the fingerprint. The fingerprint still works however there is no visual indication that the user should supply the fingerprint. The update manager window seems to "hang" instead. Other "privileged" applications show a prompt window.

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

Thanks for your bugreport.

What happens if you run (in a terminal):
$ gksu id
?

Does that show a visuall indication? I suspect this is actually a bug in gksu

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package update-manager - 1:0.124.3

---------------
update-manager (1:0.124.3) karmic; urgency=low

  [ Michael Vogt ]
  * UpdateManager/UpdateManager.py:
    - fix description display (LP: #379945), thanks
      to Richard Thomas
    - fix crash in refresh_updates_count()
  * DistUpgrade/DistUpgradeApport.py:
    - deal with errors from apport better (LP: #357339),
      thanks to Patrick Horn)
  * UpdateManager/ChangelogViewer.py:
    - fix problem for http://host/document.html. style
      entries (LP: #396393)

  [ Dustin Kirkland ]
  * debian/update-manager-core.links: install 10_release_upgrade
    into /etc/update-motd.d, rather than the daily; update-motd-3.0
    will now run these scripts on login, rather than at specified
    intervals

 -- Michael Vogt <email address hidden> Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:49:21 +0200

[Ramon Casha (rcasha)]

gksu id worked - that is, it displayed a prompt for the fingerprint. It displayed nothing on the console.

[Ramon Casha (rcasha)]

This is not fixed - Karmic (update-manager 1:0.126.6.1) still does not display anything while waiting for a fingerprint.

[Copantl (galellopez)]

i can report the same, still does not display anything

[effell (effell)]

Still unfixed, running update-manager 0.126.9

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

Thanks,

what does:
$ gksu --debug id
output? Does that show the correct prompt?

[effell (effell)]

Hi,
The first time I run
gksu --debug id
I get no prompt and the output I paste below. Later in the session, I do get a prompt.

>gksu --debug id
No ask_pass set, using default!
xauth: /tmp/libgksu-fwQvTT/.Xauthority
STARTUP_ID: gksu/id/29990-0-myuserid-myhost_TIME22862267
cmd[0]: /usr/bin/sudo
cmd[1]: -H
cmd[2]: -S
cmd[3]: -p
cmd[4]: GNOME_SUDO_PASS
cmd[5]: -u
cmd[6]: root
cmd[7]: --
cmd[8]: id
Scan right index finger on UPEK TouchStrip
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
buffer: --
[repeats .....^C]

[Michael Jastram (jastram)]

Nobody here mentioned yet that master_kernel posted a python script that fixes this issue:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=760018

The fix works for me.

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

Since this bug was reported, update-manager has switched from using gksu to using PolicyKit. So if this bug still exists, it is a bug in PolicyKit.

[madbiologist (me-again)]

Official support for Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope" and Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" has ended. If this issue is still occurring on Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" please run ubuntu-bug to file a new bug report so that we can get a set of log files and system info.