can't get ps xa /grep arts to work, gives bad syntax errors but ps x gives a list & there is no artsd running. also I get error 'rpcinfo: can't contact portmapper: RPC:remote refused' but then it goes ahead & adds the user to /etc/group.
This is definitely a permissions problem of some kind. When I do not have user as a member of audio, xmms plugin works & I can get sound as root, either logged on as root or sudo'd. but as user I get 'cannot open /dev/dsp' error while logging in & get errors when the xmms plugin tries to open. (These errors only started after I added the aumix line to bootmisc as suggested above). When user IS added to group audio, xmms plugin stalls whether being called from root or from user. Won't play sound, won't close.
Late breaking news...it DOES play the sound, it just waits about 30 seconds before it plays!??! but it still won't close.