Arch Linux

zeroxoneafour

Member

Registered: 2021-03-20

Posts: 25

Display manager not finding xsession when xsession is symlink

I have a custom build of dwm installed. I have a file in my home, dwm.desktop, that works when it is copied to /usr/share/xsessions. However, if it is symlinked there (my /home and / are on different filesystems and can't be hard linked), neither LXDM nor LightDM detect the xsession. I would prefer to have it symlinked, but it would appear the xsession cannot be loaded when symlinked. Is there a reason for this, and can I get around it?

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,526

Re: Display manager not finding xsession when xsession is symlink

No idea, but I could imagine the link targets ownership and permissions to matter (ie. root writable only)

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tucuxi

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2020-03-08

Posts: 291

Re: Display manager not finding xsession when xsession is symlink

Does lightdm run as root? If not, check if your home directory has x permissions for others.

It feels wrong that a system directory links to a file in a user's home directory. A local change inside the home directory could break the system's login manager. On the other hand, it's your system and you are perfectly free to set it up as you please.