Starting as root should be OK since this is the startup script that runs at boot time (in fact, no-one else should have permission to run this). It might be an idea to check out your startup script for obvious errors. You'll also notice that it the script does an su so the listener is run by Oracle anyway.
You got the status message from the listener when you started it, so it looks like it can find the libraries OK, but it should list your service handlers, something like this:
STATUS of the LISTENER
------------------------
Alias LISTENER
Version TNSLSNR for Linux: Version 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
Start Date 17-JUN-2002 07:10:10
Uptime 3 days 7 hr. 54 min. 46 sec
Trace Level off
Security OFF
SNMP OFF
Listener Parameter File /apps/oracle/product/8.1.7/network/admin/listener.ora
Listener Log File /apps/oracle/product/8.1.7/network/log/listener.log
Services Summary...
PLSExtProc has 1 service handler(s)
acs817 has 1 service handler(s)
acs817 has 2 service handler(s)
The command completed successfully
As you can see, my listener also tells me where the parameter file lives ($ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/listener.ora). Have a look at this file. This should list the SIDs you're listening for. Maybe something is amiss there?
