running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

Xiong Chiamiov · 2009-01-21 19:27:04

Back in my *buntu days, I could press ctrl+alt+f7 to get to another login screen, so I could run Gnome and KDE simultaneously. In Arch, though, all I get is a black screen.

It isn't very often that I want to do that, but I'm curious about how *buntu went about doing it. I would be content with either being put into SLIM or having my .xinitrc file loaded.

Mektub · 2009-01-21 19:52:30

Xiong Chiamiov wrote:

Back in my *buntu days, I could press ctrl+alt+f7 to get to another login screen, so I could run Gnome and KDE simultaneously. In Arch, though, all I get is a black screen.
It isn't very often that I want to do that, but I'm curious about how *buntu went about doing it. I would be content with either being put into SLIM or having my .xinitrc file loaded.

Using GDM, in /etc/gdm/custom.conf, puting following two lines at the end of the file:

0=Standard device=/dev/console
1=Standard

will start two GDM logins, one in f7 and the other in f8.

Mektub

Xiong Chiamiov · 2009-01-21 19:57:35

Mektub wrote:

Xiong Chiamiov wrote:
Back in my *buntu days, I could press ctrl+alt+f7 to get to another login screen, so I could run Gnome and KDE simultaneously. In Arch, though, all I get is a black screen.
It isn't very often that I want to do that, but I'm curious about how *buntu went about doing it. I would be content with either being put into SLIM or having my .xinitrc file loaded.
Using GDM, in /etc/gdm/custom.conf, puting following two lines at the end of the file:
0=Standard device=/dev/console
1=Standard
will start two GDM logins, one in f7 and the other in f8.
Mektub

Ah, so that's how they did it!

Anyone know if it's possible with SLIM?

my0pic · 2009-01-22 01:34:42

I have aliased 'startx' in my .bashrc to run this script to start X on the next available display:

#!/bin/sh

# Script to start X on next available display.

if [ $# -eq 0 ]      # check to see if arguements are given (color depth)
       then a=24    # default color depth
        else a=$1    # use given arguement
fi

if [ $a -ne 8 -a $a -ne 16 -a $a -ne 24 ]
        then
                echo "Invalid color depth. Use 8, 16, or 24."
        exit 1
fi

for display in 0 1 2 3 4 5    # checks for open display, starts X on next available
        {
        if [ ! -f "/tmp/.X$display-lock" ]
                then
                        exec startx -- :$display -depth $a
                exit0
        fi
        }
echo "No displays available."
exit 1

To start an additional X display but without using a script you can use

startx -- :1

but note that the script checks if any displays have already been started.

signor_rossi · 2009-01-22 09:26:18

qingy allows to start multiple X sessions easily, even with different X configurations. Another advantage is that it is fast to start, since X is not needed as for the kdm/gdm login managers.
Unfortunately there are some issues with paths that are not sourced as they should in certain situations...

SignorRossi.

dav7 · 2009-01-22 14:03:19

You probably already know, but you can use Xnest and VNC servers to let you run stuff outside your normal X server.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-01-21 19:27:04

running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

#2 2009-01-21 19:52:30

Re: running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

#3 2009-01-21 19:57:35

Re: running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

#4 2009-01-22 01:34:42

Re: running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

#5 2009-01-22 09:26:18

Re: running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

#6 2009-01-22 14:03:19

Re: running multiple X sessions (f6, f7, etc)

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