how to choose desktop environment in console mode

sharathg786 · 03-17-2007, 02:18 AM

Hi, i have an FC6, i've changed my default runlevel to 3 and after my system boots im presented with the login prompt at the console, after i login if i want to enter the GUI, i give the 'startx' command and then it enters Gnome

>I use KDE as desktop environment, i want 'startx' to start KDE directly without choosing it in login screen.

>how can i choose the desktop session (KDE or GNOME or fluxbox) before giving startx i.e., in the console itself.

>and also how can i set resoultion for the console mode? coz the text appears big and fills my screen width if i give a lengthy command.

homey · 03-17-2007, 09:51 AM

This should allow you to select startx environment from runlevel 3

Code:

startx `which startkde`
startx `which start gnome-session`
startx `which startfluxbox`
startx `which startxfce4`

For the console text size, you can put a vga command in in the grub.conf .
For example:

Code:

title Fedora Core (2.6.20-1.2925.fc6)
   root (hd1,1)
   kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-1.2925.fc6 ro root=LABEL=/  vga=788
   initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.20-1.2925.fc6.img

sharathg786 · 03-19-2007, 10:17 AM

Thanx, the startx commands work, but no change if i give the vga line, infact the fonts of my KDE appear smaller if i give "VGA=788" how to give a suitable value, i mean is there a way of specifying a resolution? like 800x600 or 1024x768 ?

homey · 03-19-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

and also how can i set resoultion for the console mode?

I took that to mean when you boot up into runnlevel 1 or 3 but now you are talking about kde which is not console mode.
If you want to adjust resolution for kde, I would use ( as root ) the command: system-config-display

sharathg786 · 03-20-2007, 02:29 AM

No, actually what i meant was after giving the vga=788, there was no change in the font size in console mode, but when i run 'init 5' from console, then i see that the font size in KDE appear smaller.

Is 788 is just a value? then i'll try giving smaller value and see what happens.

jschiwal · 03-20-2007, 02:43 AM

The vga=xxx has particular numbers for particular modes. You can't just give any number. I use vga=791. This may need framebuffer support which you probably have. These entries don't have any effect on kde.
From directfb/README:

Code:

   All VESA Video Modes:

   Bits    640x480 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024 1600x1200
   8       769     771     773      775       796
   16      785     788     791      794       798
   32      786     789     792      795       799

You may be able to use the Modes listed in /etc/fb.modes as well.

sharathg786 · 03-20-2007, 10:27 AM

thank you guys, its working, all these time i didn't actually edit the grub.conf file but was giving the vga part as boot parameter during startup, guess that was the problem....but now after editing the file, its workin fine, Thanx