urgent connect '/ as sysdba' insufficient privs

9i instance
Linux

Okay, we have an instance that we can log into connect sys/password as sysdba and it works fine
however...
if we try to log in '/ as sysdba' it complains about insufficient privs...

suggestions would be most welcome

have deleted password file and recreated password file oracle user is a member of the dba group relinked sqlplus
what are we missing?

ajw

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