Linux supports multiple users, right? Then explain this: the first user logs in and enables sound in Gnome and Enlightment, everything works fine; when the first user logs out and the second user logs in, the second user couldn't use sound support in Enlightment because "esd" refuses to run. It turns out that the first user left a "/tmp/.esd/socket" FIFO file and apparently, "esd" needs to create that file for the second user but failed because it already exists or doesn't have enough permission to remove it. Removing the socket file by hand doesn't solve the problem -- all the audio devices are still busy for some reason, even though no "esd" is running at the moment. I used to complain that the majority of NT programs work for the user who installs them but don't work for other non-admin users (for example PalmPilot desktop, Office sound support, and many others). It seems that "esd" works for the first user but not for anybody there after.
i have this problem with ksound not cleaning up after itself. everyone who logs in on the console creates a new ksound process and it simply stays there.
I also have this problem and have a cirvension (for my particular situation). I have added a script as /etc/X11/gdm/PostSession/Default which issues the command /usr/bin/esdctl unlock This is run as root but seems to work. Part of the problem is that there is extremely little documentation on using esound.
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 2286 ***