backup copy of F14 boots, but can't login

[Lamar Owen]

On Monday, June 27, 2011 04:41:43 PM jackson byers wrote:
> My backup copy of F14 boots, all looks normal,
>  boot messages all "OK"
> 
> but then I can't login:  after entering my password
> the screen recycles to the login screen,
> and continues to do this if I keep trying.

Home directories require specific SELinux contexts.  If you have SELinux on and enforcing, and you back up /home without backing up the SELinux contexts this will happen.  If you go to a text console (Ctrl-Alt-F2 for one), and try to log in there, if this is the problem it should tell you that it can't change the working directory.

Either backup with an SELinux context preserving tool (such as star or dump or a disk clone) or run fixfiles ('fixfiles relabel' or 'touch /.autorelabel' and reboot)).