Arch Linux

buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

[SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

I have a desktop PC which I use for "serious" stuffs (like CAD et similia) and gaming (basically 1 TiB of steam library).
I have a dual boot on separate hard disks (5 hard disks total: windows, linux, windows games, linux games, data 1, data 2).

I want to separate work and gaming, my idea is having 2 different accounts, the gaming one without fancy desktop compositing effects, documents and customizations.

I don't know how to achieve this on archlinux: I've found how to multiseat (different monitors and input devices for different accounts) and how to run multiple X server on the same account but this doesn't help.
I need to run multiple X on different accounts.

If I open tty2 (Ctrl + Alt + F2) and type xinit -- :1.0 I get a new X running Xfce but system halt and seems not responding, I can't even switch back to tty1. I think it's because the new X session has no input devices to work with, but I don't know what to do.

Last edited by buntolo (2015-07-03 12:51:28)

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,721

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

I do it all the time, but I do not use a display manger.

Switch to a different console using CTRL-ALT-F2 (or F3, or F4...) Login in. Startx.   Switch back to the first screen with CTRL-ALT-F1.

Edit:  You were editing whilst I was posting

Last edited by ewaller (2015-07-01 16:33:02)

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ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,721

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

What video system do you have?

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Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus
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How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

I do it all the time, but I do not use a display manger.

Switch to a different console using CTRL-ALT-F2 (or F3, or F4...) Login in. Startx.   Switch back to the first screen with CTRL-ALT-F1.

Edit:  You were editing whilst I was posting

I have no Display Manager as well, I use command line login + 'exec startxfce4' in .xinitrc.
If I execute startx in a new tty I get an error about X being already running.
Sorry about edit.

What video system do you have?

What do you mean?

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

If I open tty2 (Ctrl + Alt + F2) and type xinit -- :1.0

What if you use `startx`?

I use command line login + 'exec startxfce4' in .xinitrc

You should copy the file from /etc/X11/init/xinitrc to ~/.xinitrc and modify it to your needs to ensure the dbus session (and a few other things) runs correctly.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xi … figuration

What do you mean?

Post the output of:

lspci -k|egrep -iA2 'vga|3d'

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buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

What if you use `startx`?

It just works perfectly, I can have 2 X sessions on 2 different users at the same time. Why???

You should copy the file from /etc/X11/init/xinitrc to ~/.xinitrc and modify it to your needs to ensure the dbus session (and a few other things) runs correctly.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xi … figuration

That's exactly what I did: this is a fresh install and I followed wiki instructions step by step, even if this is my 4th arch installment.

Post the output of:

lspci -k|egrep -iA2 'vga|3d'

% lspci -k | egrep -iA2 'vga|3d'
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF110 [GeForce GTX 570 Rev. 2] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: NVIDIA Corporation Device 0871
	Kernel driver in use: nvidia

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

Why???

*shrugs* Dunno.

Just use `startx` then.

Is this [SOLVED]?

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

Why???

*shrugs* Dunno.

Just use `startx` then.

Is this [SOLVED]?

Just one question: how to automatically start X on login? exec startxfce4 doesn't work.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

how to automatically start X on login?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Start_X_at_login

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

how to automatically start X on login?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Start_X_at_login

I'm missing something: how does startx will start xfce4?
Is something like "login read .bash_profile which execute 'startx' wich read .xinitrc which execute 'exec startxfce4'"?

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

Is something like "login read .bash_profile which execute 'startx' wich read .xinitrc which execute 'exec startxfce4'"?

Yup.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

buntolo

Member

Registered: 2011-10-11

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Multiple X sessions for multiple users

Marked as solved.