At 06:12 AM 18/01/2008, you wrote:

>> Yes, re-emerging helped. I removed the security2.fdb file and the
>> firebird user (because of its password) and updated from
>> 2.0.3.12981.0-r2 to -r4. Now it works again, even if the server
>> still says it couldn't start.
>>
>
>And today, after shutdown and reboot, but no other changes: I try to
>start the server and get the very same error messages
>in /var/log/firebird/firebird.log:
>
>Elend (Client) Thu Jan 17 19:59:04 2008
> /usr/lib/firebird/../../../usr/bin/fbguard: guardian
>starting ../../../usr/bin/fbserver
>
>Elend (Server) Thu Jan 17 19:59:04 2008
>Database: /usr/lib/firebird/../../../etc/firebird/security2.fdb
> Your user name and password are not defined. Ask your
>database administrator to set up a Firebird login.
>
>Elend (Client) Thu Jan 17 19:59:04 2008
> /usr/lib/firebird/../../../usr/bin/fbguard: ../../../usr/bin/fbserver
>terminated due to startup error (2)
>
>Elend (Client) Thu Jan 17 19:59:04 2008
> /usr/lib/firebird/../../../usr/bin/fbguard: ../../../usr/bin/fbserver
>terminated due to startup error (2)
>
>What's the matter here? Everything in /etc/firebird belongs to user
>firebird, and I didn't do anything to this user after the reinstall.
>It's not a really good idea to reinstall firebird every time I want
>to use it!
>
>What can I do?

Move security2.fdb into Firebird's root directory where it belongs. The same with any other pieces you have moved out of Firebird's root directory...

./heLen