Auto Log on

ctrunk514 · 07-23-2003, 09:55 AM

I'm ruining Redhat 9.0 (but would be willing to switch disto's if that would help)

I have installed Linux to some older workstations with limited hardware resources. I have only installed the packages that I need and nothing else. No KDE, Gnome or any GUI. I'm trying to use as little hardrive as possible.

I want to know if there is a way to have the system auto log in as a user. Security is not an issue in this situation. I would be willing to install somthing small if it would help me get this done.

Mathieu · 07-23-2003, 02:33 PM

For automatic login, you will need to create a user (and the home directory is required).
I will use guest.

Create a file (autologin) in /sbin
In the file, add:
exec su --login guest

Save it and make it executable:
chmod 755 autologin

In the /etc/inittab, replace the line
1:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty1
with
1:2345:respawn:/sbin/autologin tty1

You should set automatic login on tty1, since tty1 is where the guest login will default to.

ctrunk514 · 07-23-2003, 03:16 PM

Thank you very very much!
I followed you directions and it worked like a charm.

My only problem is that my user can no longer startx, I get a PAM authentication problem. It says "perhaps you do not have console owner ship" (I need to startx so that I can then run rdesktop)

If you have any thoughts I would greatly appreciate it.

Regardless, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! you have gotten me much closer to my over all goal