session chooser in Slack 9.0

Culbert · 03-25-2003, 11:39 PM

I'm brand new to slack and I come from RedHat, then to Mandrake, then to Vector, and now to Slack 9.0. I want to learn on a "real" version of Linux. Although Vector was very very nice it didn't have ALL the programs I was hoping for. But all of those distros had some sort of a session chooser where I could pick which desktop environment or window manager I wanted to use. Is this something that comes with Slack too? I see in the control panel that there is a user management tool and that looks like something to add sessions to a list, but how do I activate it? Forgive me if there is a previous post on this, but I was unable to find anything rather specific to my question.

geno976 · 03-26-2003, 04:06 AM

Quote:

But all of those distros had some sort of a session chooser where I could pick which desktop environment or window manager I wanted to use.

use "xwmconfig" to switch between window managers ... once u select a diffetent window manager, break out of X (ctrl+atl+backspace) and startx again and it should use the window manager u just selected.

-geno

Excalibur · 03-26-2003, 06:47 AM

Many (read most) of the other distros use run level 5 from the inittab for starting your system. Slack defaults to run level 3, console mode. However, Slack does not use runlevel 5 for a GUI login, Slack uses runlevel 4. If you wish to switch to this then modify the /etc/inittab file like below.

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:4:initdefault:

Also, something new (changed) in Slack 9 is the default login manager. It used to be kdm was searched first and loaded if present. Now it is gdm. If you wish to change this, the only way I know of is to modify the /etc/rc.d/rc.4 script to load kdm first. Either remark out the gdm section or relocate the kdm section above the gdm section in the file. I have found that gdm can change the window manager on selection but it is not as easy or nice as the kdm. Also, I could not find where gdm offered any shutdown options.

Culbert · 03-26-2003, 08:36 AM

Excalibur, thanks for the info, but it's a bit too advanced for me at the moment. I hope to delve into that stuff soon!

Right now though, that xwmconfig works absolutely perfect. I actually preffer to have a default desktop environment load by default rather than choosing one each time I log in. Thanks Geno!

Excalibur · 03-26-2003, 09:04 AM

The changes are fairly simple and can be done using a simple editor like mcedit. So when you are ready then come back if you desire any assistance.

Culbert · 03-26-2003, 09:10 AM

thanks!

wr3ck3d · 03-26-2003, 09:26 AM

Culbert, although it sounds advanced all it really is opening the file in a text editor and for this the 4 used to be a 3, so change to a 4 like this.......

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:4:initdefault:

And then for the 2nd thing its just putting a couple #'s on the appropriate lines.

# Try to use GNOME's gdm session manager:
if [ -x /usr/bin/gdm ]; then
exec /usr/bin/gdm -nodaemon
fi

change it to

# Try to use GNOME's gdm session manager:
#if [ -x /usr/bin/gdm ]; then
# exec /usr/bin/gdm -nodaemon
#fi

thats all

Sifvion · 03-26-2003, 09:52 AM

I agreed with Excalibur and wr3ck3d changing inittab is as simple as editing your document in word.

rivang · 04-15-2003, 03:34 PM

Someone... maybe Excalibur... posted a command the other day where you could test run levels before you change it in your inittab.

What was that procedure again?

I just found it...

Quote:

Originally posted by Excalibur
If I understand the question correctly. May be highly questioned. Your machine is setup and configured to run X windows but the default login prompt is the console. You want it to be GUI based, like KDE or GNome?

If above is correct then it I would think your system is still running in runlevel (or initlevel) 3. Change it to 4 in the /etc/inittab file.

It is a line that reads "id:3:initdefault:" Simply change the 3 to a 4.

I usually test the mode first though before simply changing and rebooting. I do this by using the "telinit 4" command after logging in as root. If it works well and the session manager starts and allows a login OK, then change the inittab file. To return to console prompt mode press Ctrl-Alt-F6 to get to the sixth console getty to login.

If the above doesn't answer your question then maybe providing somemore information would help.

Cheers

DaFrEQ · 05-12-2003, 01:21 PM

Hey all...

I have the X session manager working. However, when I boot into init 4, I loose my consoles. Any idea why? Or what to config to bring 'em back? Or do they even exist in init 4 in slack 9?
(ctrl&alt&F2) and so on. All gone.

(using...)
Slack 9
All hardware configured properly and working
(except the dual head)

tnx

L8rz

Alan Hicks · 05-12-2003, 07:39 PM

Quote:

I have the X session manager working. However, when I boot into init 4, I loose my consoles. Any idea why? Or what to config to bring 'em back? Or do they even exist in init 4 in slack 9?
(ctrl&alt&F2) and so on. All gone.

No, they aren't gone, and the answer is right in front of your face. You edited /etc/inittab to change your default run-level, right (even if you didn't, some one suggested doing that earlier in this thread). Therefor, the first place you should look is /etc/inittab. Here's the relevant portion from a stock /etc/inittab from Slackware 9.0 (and all other recent versions too).

# These are the standard console login getties in multiuser mode:
c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux
c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux
c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux
c4:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux
c5:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux
c6:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux

Notice which one of those has a 4?

DaFrEQ · 05-13-2003, 08:08 AM

kewl.

tnx.

L8rz

contrasutra · 05-13-2003, 04:28 PM

For your dualhead problem, there is a wonderful How-To for Xinerama on tldp.org , it helped me a lot.

Yeah, all your consoles should be there. You just have to switch between them.

You can always just open up a terminal emulator (console,Konsole,xterm), I never understood why people went through all the trouble of switching, with all those keys and everything, too painful.