root tail

scylla · 07-29-2005, 02:32 PM

Hi,

A long time ago I had a command that would open a transparent, bordless, menuless window that stuck to the lower left of all workspacess and just did a tail -f on /var/log/message.

I know there was a project 'root tail' to do this, but it does approx. nothing when I use it. I'm using GNOME/METACITY on Xorg on RHEL4. I can't seem to figure out how I used to do this, or what terminal program I used.

Does anyone do anything similar?

Thanks

wölf · 07-29-2005, 05:59 PM

Do you mean this program?
root tail proggie

Hope it helps

scylla · 07-29-2005, 06:11 PM

Thanks but that is the one that doesn't do anything at all when I launch it.. I suspect due to some setting in GNOME that doesn't allow programs to run in the root window.

wölf · 07-29-2005, 06:14 PM

do you get any errors while starting the program?
because you said

Quote:

but it does approx. nothing when I use it.

scylla · 08-01-2005, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wölf
do you get any errors while starting the program?
because you said

No, nothing in logs or on the console or anything. It just doesn't do anything.. does it work for you?

Tinkster · 08-01-2005, 04:34 PM

You DO know about the parameters it needs to be
invoked with? Just asking

Cheers,
Tink

scylla · 08-02-2005, 01:20 PM

Yes, I've tried quite a few a arguments to the program, still nothing shows up. For instance:

root-tail -color white /var/log/messages

My background is solid black.

I have read you need to enable 'write unders' or 'allow applications to run in root window' at a couple places. I'm using RHEL4 Gnome/ Metacity. Does anyone know where that is done?

Thanks

ironwalker · 08-02-2005, 03:40 PM

start the proggy and look in the process' for a running instance of root-tail.....if its running the default geometry is off for your monitor and need to specify the geometry.

scylla · 08-02-2005, 05:50 PM

it is running, and it isn't a geometry issue.. i can specify the location of other x apps (xterm etc) and they appear where I tell them to

wölf · 08-03-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scylla
I have read you need to enable 'write unders' or 'allow applications to run in root window' at a couple places. I'm using RHEL4 Gnome/ Metacity. Does anyone know where that is done?

I have found where to enable it in KDE,
just right-click on your desktop and go to "something like manage desktop" and then click on "behavior" in the left window.
Beneath "general" it's the second option: "allow programs on desktop"

Guess on GNOME and the others, it is like-wise.

Hope you can understand my poor explenation,
i'm not speaking english very well

Lemme know if it works out!