How is it possible to lounch XDMForum: X and Fluxbox Topic: How is it possible to lounch XDM started by: sdelaye Posted by sdelaye on Oct. 09 2005,20:12
I want to use the PC with DSL as a X terminal.I downloaded xdm with apt-get, it is starting just before the login prompt. But how can I use it ? I do not have any graphical login displayed. Posted by cbagger01 on Oct. 11 2005,16:47
You will need to edit your xdm configuration files in order to have it run and launch the correct X programs and window manager.Check the xdm documentation for more details. Posted by sdelaye on Oct. 11 2005,19:53
I did edit the xdm configuration files but I should have missed something: it doesn't work. Are there any other files to edit ?Thank you. Posted by brianw on Oct. 12 2005,01:29
When I tried I could not get xdm to work. It is missing the xrdb file wich is part of the xclientbase and a pain in the but to get without messing up your install. I did get kdm to work though and I like it much better than xdm. I used synaptic to install kdm then did the standard configuration changes. Then you need to create /etc/X11/Xsession file. Do a search and you should find out the format of this file. In the very least it needs to have a single line that reads fluxbox to start fluxbox ( you should have a line just before it to run the enhance script to get all the desktop stuff you want). Once you play with it some you should be able to add any number of window managers and startup configurations (i.e failsafe, etc...). You also need to change the /etc/kde2/kdm/Xserver file (go to the very last line there is an entry for starting an x server) to start Xvesa (if you are using Xvesa) with the -ac option. Don't forget to change /etc/kde2/kdm/kdmrc so that it allows hosts to connect. Most of the changes are standard config changes that you get from other documentation but the Xsession and Xserver change is unique.Edit:: I am also looking at using Xterminals so right now I am investigating getting Xterminal sound to work (looking into NAS). Posted by sdelaye on Oct. 26 2005,23:09
I've installed kdm. When starting, it says just before login "Starting K desktop Manager: done". but the text login is still displayed. What' wrong ? Can you send me a sample of Xsession file (sdelaye@hotmail.com) ? Thank you Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 27 2005,01:58
DSL has nothing associated with KDE or Qt, so i'd say that is your problem. If you want to use kdm, you should probably also install kde, which means you should probably install a different distro. I don't mean to sound like an ass, but adding Qt/KDE apps to DSL is equivalent to eating one scoop of ice cream with a gallon of chocolate syrup on it. Posted by brianw on Oct. 27 2005,15:15
I don't think KDM is actually a KDE app and you don't need to install anything to do with kde to use it. Basically KDM/GDM/XDM is just a pretty login screen. KDM/GDM allow more functionality when logging in (like shutdown/restart, WM selection, failsafe selection) and look prettier (nothing else). Once you login you run the WM and Xserver just the same as if you start it with startx. When you log out you can set it to restart the DM or go to the text console.
I probably won't be able to get around to it until this weekend but I will as soon as I can. Posted by brianw on Nov. 02 2005,18:12
You should have the files. In the readme I couldn't remember which script started all the window stuff for fluxbox but after re-reading the posts I found it is the "enhance" script. Using this would be much better than starting the items individually the way I have done in the Xsession file. Since kdm can be set to use xrdb as well the Xsession file I sent you might be usable to get xdm working as well without requiring xrdb (not sure though and probably won't try any time soon).
Posted by Anonymous (BreMac) on Nov. 04 2005,01:00
I've been considering this as well, but I've noticed that kdm and gdm have LOTS of dependancies. Example - kdm:
(And several other non-DSL-inclusion dependancies). Total Size: ~10MB. That's a lot just for a pretty login... unless someone could compile a static binary? Posted by brianw on Nov. 04 2005,02:00
I guess then it must be a kde app and when I start fluxbox in the Xsession it is using kde instead. Funny fluxbox runs just as fast with kdm as without kdm so I guess I can switch to kde without any performance reduction. Don't suppose there are any other situations where people use a small portion of software in a specific way without using the full software.
Posted by mikshaw on Nov. 04 2005,03:37
It's not actually using "KDE", but is using some of the libs and widgets that are a part of KDE. *Any* KDE/Qt application you install will require at least some Qt libs just to display the widgets, and since these widgets are more ram-hungry than those in FLTK, Gtk1, or X, you will be using more resources while running these programs.In my suse system I have a program called qinternet, which is just a simple ppp dialer. However, since it is a Qt applicaton it requires loading of libs that are use only when configuring the application....the result is a program that uses 15mb of ram just to tell you whether or not you're connected to the internet. Posted by brianw on Nov. 05 2005,00:04
Yes, it does use about 600K (which is alot for what it does). It wouldn't be for someone that has very limited ram (but it can be set to stop and restart upon exit). It is not for everyone, but my family likes it. I think the important thing is that people should experiment and try new things. DSL is a great distro and people can tweak it, very easily, to get something they really like (and if you have a hd install it is rather painless to fix, and even easier with frugal and livecd correct?). Maybe this thread could be moved to a Non DSL topic thread if it really bothers people, that way everyone is happy? Posted by crusadingknight on Nov. 09 2005,15:55
On this topic... < SLiM > can replace XDM/GDM as a login manager, if anyone could compile it... I've got dependancy hell going on here trying to get the packages through ubuntu/debian packages, and I don't feel like downloading the whole of X.org for headers. It'd certainly make a nice extension, and DamnSmallLinux would be the first to include it as a 3rd party package.
Posted by teklvr04 on Feb. 05 2006,15:37
I"m also interested in a graphical login using xdm or kdm to enable logging in via a remote vnc client. I've been able to install xdm, get the graphical login prompt, but when I login it recylcles back to the login splash. Obviously I'm missing something in the config files. I've added a .xsession file in dsl's home directory using the same contents as .xinitrc but it didn't make any difference. If someone could add the script and config files (of brianw or anyone else) to the wiki or someplace else for all to use that would be great. If you post it to the wiki, put a notification here and a link. Thanks for all the great work to all.JulianW (aka teklvr04) Posted by tb10alj on Feb. 08 2006,11:05
Hi, after adding the .xsession file to your home directory, edit /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession and add the following line: . /$HOME/.xsession This tells xdm to run the user specific xsession script. You also should have a look at /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers and check, if the Xserver is started with the correct parameters. regards JAN |