how to start a second XServer session?

jenia · 2014-11-17 05:40:49

I want to run xmnoad in another TTY. For this purporse, I type

startx /usr/bin/xmonad -- :6 vt6

I simply get a black screen. I thought maybe I dont know how to use xmonad. So I did the same with lxde, which I normally use:

startx /user/bin/openbox-lxde -- :6 vt6

I got simply a black screen with a cursor.

Also, when I kill that process by doing

ps aux | grep xmonad

kill ****

The xserver shuts down.

Can someone tell me, how to properly start a second window manager like xmonad or lxde in another TTY session.

Last edited by jenia (2014-11-17 06:11:04)

karol · 2014-11-17 06:31:44

Are you using ~/.xinitrc to launch your X session? I do. I simply log into another tty and type 'startx'.

alezost · 2014-11-17 07:07:42

Why do you use ":6"? Did you try ":1"?

Edit: I didn't notice your phrase about cursor, so perhaps it just started OK and all you get is a window manager. I tried

startx xterm -- :1 vt6

and I saw xterm window as expected.

Last edited by alezost (2014-11-17 07:49:40)

jenia · 2014-11-17 14:50:11

karol wrote:

Are you using ~/.xinitrc to launch your X session? I do. I simply log into another tty and type 'startx'.

Hi Karol.

No. I can't use xinitrc because it has the settings for my current window manager, but I want to try another window manager (xmonad) in another TTY so I have to pass it the argument on the command line I guess.

Trilby · 2014-11-17 14:53:53

FWIW, xinitrc takes parameters. For example, I can run mine with "xinit alo", "xinit vel", "xinit ob", or with no parameter for a default:

xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
urxvtd -q -f -o

WM=${1:-alo}

xrandr | grep -q "VGA1 connected" && xrandr --output LVDS1 --auto --output VGA1 --auto --below LVDS1
iocane -c powder

case $WM in
	alo)
		exec ~/code/alopex/alopex > ~/.xorg.log 2>&1
		;;
	vel)
		tint2 &
		exec ~/code/velox/velox > ~/.xorg.log 2>&1
		;;
	ob)
		feh --bg-scale ~/images/bg.jpg
		exec openbox
		;;
	*)
		exec alopex
		;;
esac

jenia · 2014-11-17 14:56:06

alezost wrote:

Why do you use ":6"? Did you try ":1"?
Edit: I didn't notice your phrase about cursor, so perhaps it just started OK and all you get is a window manager. I tried
startx xterm -- :1 vt6
and I saw xterm window as expected.

Hi alezost.
I dont understand, xterm is a terminal emulator i think.
Also, what do you mean "all you get is a window manager"? Is that not enough to get a normal graphical environemtn?
I want to achieve the same result as if I place `exec xmonad` in my .xinitrc file but from the command line (to try alternative window managers like xmonad in another TTY while running my primary window manager which is lxde).

kokoko3k · 2014-11-17 15:07:53

FYI, since recent Xorg updates, it is mandatory to first switch to the vt you want to start another X server.
I don't know if this is the expected behaviour.

See this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=186212

Arch Linux

#1 2014-11-17 05:40:49

how to start a second XServer session?

#2 2014-11-17 06:31:44

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

#3 2014-11-17 07:07:42

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

#4 2014-11-17 14:50:11

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

#5 2014-11-17 14:53:53

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

#6 2014-11-17 14:56:06

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

#7 2014-11-17 15:07:53

Re: how to start a second XServer session?

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