Linux Know-How provides a collection of introductory texts on often needed Linux skills.


Concurrent GUI logins

To enable several concurrent GUI logins on different local consoles under RedHat (RedHat uses program gdm for graphical logins), I had to edit the file: /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf . I have the following entry at the end of this file to enable 4 login terminals <Ctrl><Alt><F7> to <Ctrl><Alt><F10>:

[servers]

3=/usr/bin/X11/X vt10

2=/usr/bin/X11/X vt9

1=/usr/bin/X11/X vt8

0=/usr/bin/X11/X vt7

Having four GUI lets me run KDE and GNOME at the same time on one computer with two GUI terminals spare, so my sister can login despite my having screensavers with password-protection.

To enable several concurrent GUI logins on different local consoles under Mandrake (Mandrake uses kdm for graphical logins), I had to modify two files: /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers to include something like:

:0 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :0

:1 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1

:2 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :2

and /etc/X11/xdm/xdm-config to copy all the settings for display 0 to display 1 and 2 so that it includes this:

DisplayManager._0.authorize: true

DisplayManager._1.authorize: true

DisplayManager._2.authorize: true

DisplayManager._0.setup: /etc/X11/xdm/Xsetup_0

DisplayManager._0.startup: /etc/X11/xdm/GiveConsole

DisplayManager._0.reset: /etc/X11/xdm/TakeConsole

DisplayManager._1.setup: /etc/X11/xdm/Xsetup_0

DisplayManager._1.startup: /etc/X11/xdm/GiveConsole

DisplayManager._1.reset: /etc/X11/xdm/TakeConsole

DisplayManager._2.setup: /etc/X11/xdm/Xsetup_0

DisplayManager._2.startup: /etc/X11/xdm/GiveConsole

DisplayManager._2.reset: /etc/X11/xdm/TakeConsole

This enables me to run gnome and kde at the same time on a single computer with the third GUI terminal spare.


Last Update: 2010-12-16