X Server won't start Redhat 9

I'm going crazy here trying to restore the replacement server back into the working order it was previously... (*before* I actually do the replacement!). This is a Redhat 9 system that when I built it from the CDs had a working Gnome environment. It also had a temporary hostname so that I could have it on the net with the current server.

Now I've changed the name to be the same as the current server (but have it off-net, of course), and I can no longer start the X Server! There is a local net to which it is normally connected by a second NIC, but I've taken it off that, too, for now

The message I get (from an attempted xinit) is: -------------------------------- $ xinit

bane server error: PAM authentication failed, cannot start X server. Perhaps you do not have console ownership?

When reporting a problem related to a server crash, please send the full server output, not just the last messages.

giving up. xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X server xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error. $ ---------------------------------

Well, I'm doing it from the Console, so I should darn well have ownership! The rest of the above output seems singularly unhelpful. I can't really find any clue as to what part of PAM might be objecting.

Any pointers greatly appreciated!

-- Pete --