Can you open the OEM console or DBCA?

Are you on the console or remotelly? Did you setup your DISPLAY variable?

I have 9i on SuSE 7.2 and it is running fine. Can you post your env?

Check the latest Oracle DBA forums at:
http://www.dbaclick.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi

Hope that helps,