Arch Linux

ogronom

Member

From: Toronto, Canada

Registered: 2008-05-06

Posts: 123

[SOLVED] multiuser desktop

In my family, there is a desktop that is used by 3 people.

There is a GNOME and fast-user-switch applet that allowed to use a machine without logout of the previous user.
Recently I found out that for me XFCE is better than GNOME (more free memory, a little bit faster, more functionality, more customization)

Is there a way to have multiuser desktop so I dno't have to logout everytime I switch user?
P.S.: I know that it is possible to use gnome applets in xfce, but I don't want. What if instead of xfce, I try another DE/WM

Last edited by ogronom (2008-11-09 04:27:46)

ogronom

Member

From: Toronto, Canada

Registered: 2008-05-06

Posts: 123

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

There is not much information on this issue.
Peliminary conclusions (may be only partly true)
-- This feature is connected with how X session start
-- It's possible to switch user only if using G/KDM
-- Need a program to lock the screen... or something like this

briest

Member

From: Katowice, PL

Registered: 2006-05-04

Posts: 468

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

You can start two Xservers; this is the way I share computer with my wife. My WindowMaker runs on 7th console, her Gnome on 8th one and we switch using Ctrl+Alt+F[78]. GDM starts the Xservers for us, but you can always start them manually (startx and startx -- :1).

my0pic

Member

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2008-05-23

Posts: 206

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

Easiest way is to use GDM and then in xfce, the command to put in your run dialog would be

gdmflexiserver

That will give you a new login screen on tty8 and preserve your existing session (tty7).

ogronom

Member

From: Toronto, Canada

Registered: 2008-05-06

Posts: 123

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

You can start two Xservers; this is the way I share computer with my wife. My WindowMaker runs on 7th console, her Gnome on 8th one and we switch using Ctrl+Alt+F[78]. GDM starts the Xservers for us, but you can always start them manually (startx and startx -- :1).

I tried to switch to 8 console, but I get no login prompt (empty login screen). How do you do this? Is it feature of only GDM?
Nevertheless I could start Xserver manually, but that's not what everyone wants.

my0pic

Member

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2008-05-23

Posts: 206

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

You can start two Xservers; this is the way I share computer with my wife. My WindowMaker runs on 7th console, her Gnome on 8th one and we switch using Ctrl+Alt+F[78]. GDM starts the Xservers for us, but you can always start them manually (startx and startx -- :1).

I tried to switch to 8 console, but I get no login prompt (empty login screen). How do you do this? Is it feature of only GDM?
Nevertheless I could start Xserver manually, but that's not what everyone wants.

Configure your system to start at the gdm login screen
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GDM
then start your preferred desktop session. To switch user without the gnome user-switch-applet, either in a terminal or in a run dialog:

gdmflexiserver

You should then get a gdm login screen started on tty8 on which your second user can start their session.
Otherwise it's the startx method as outlined by briest (ie, if you don't want to use a login manager).
Your second user logs in on tty2 & starts their session on tty8 by using startx -- :1

Last edited by my0pic (2008-11-09 04:28:14)

ogronom

Member

From: Toronto, Canada

Registered: 2008-05-06

Posts: 123

Re: [SOLVED] multiuser desktop

Thanks