Multiple users hijack each others' windows in 11.10

[Don Doumakes]

Under 11.04 using Gnome 2, I could have a Gnome session as one user, open Firefox, do business related browsing. I could also open a terminal, xhost +, su to a different user, and open a different Firefox process for hobby related browsing, different set of bookmarks, different home directory and all that. It was convenient.

Now that I've upgraded to 11.10, the behavior is different and confusing. User A opens a Firefox window, no problem. Open a terminal, su to user B. User B starts up a Firefox process from the command line. Output of ps clearly shows two independent processes (i.e. one is not the parent of the other). A new Firefox window appears, but gets User A's bookmarks and other configuration, as if user B were simply opening a new window in user A's original process.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: linux-image-3.0.0-12-generic 3.0.0-12.20
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: don 6172 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: don 6172 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xfcff8000 irq 45'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC1200'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0888,104382fe,00100101'
   Controls : 41
   Simple ctrls : 23
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'NVidia'/'HDA NVidia at 0xfe8fc000 irq 17'
   Mixer name : 'Nvidia GPU 14 HDMI/DP'
   Components : 'HDA:10de0014,10de0101,00100100'
   Controls : 16
   Simple ctrls : 4
Date: Sun Oct 16 19:04:32 2011
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=cdeebca2-1ee3-4df8-973e-68f2093c28c3
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.
MachineType: System manufacturer P5Q
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: root=UUID=15101579-e4b2-4044-8361-a1e72f822a70 ro all_generic_ide nopat
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.60
RfKill:

SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-15 (1 days ago)
WpaSupplicantLog:

dmi.bios.date: 05/26/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 0506
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P5Q
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0506:bd05/26/2008:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnP5Q:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP5Q:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: P5Q
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the release candidate kernel versus the daily build. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

[Don Doumakes (doumakes)]

With vmlinuz-3.1.0-0301rc10-generic I get no graphics at all, and can't proceed further with the test.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

This issue appears to be an upstream bug, since you tested the latest upstream kernel. Would it be possible for you to open an upstream bug report at bugzilla.kernel.org? That will allow the upstream Developers to examine the issue, and may provide a quicker resolution to the bug.

If you are comfortable with opening a bug upstream, It would be great if you can report back the upstream bug number in this bug report. That will allow us to link this bug to the upstream report.

[Don Doumakes (doumakes)]

I'm willing, but no longer able: I've just installed Debian and no
longer have an Ubuntu system. I've stood by Ubuntu for many years but
this forced switch to Unity was the last straw.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Don Doumakes, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>

Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available (not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.12

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]