hello, does anyone know of how xdm starts up the X server

what i want to do is write a script, so that when a user logs in (on terminal 7, default xdm screen) the script will start the users session on a different display, then revert the term 7 xdm to the login screen to allow another user to do the same (i only have 4 users that will use the X server)

This may help you out

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/XDM-Xterm/

As I understand it, XDM is started after the x-server is already up and running.

Possibly adding an ampersand to your bootup file which is calling XDM might help: "XDM &" to free your terminal ... dunno, test won't hurt (I hope ).

JZL240I-U : actually the role of display managers (like xdm) is to allow logins into X after X has started ..

to put it into a time-line from start to finish

1)startup scripts call xdm (startup scripts run as root)
2) xdm (requiring the X server to display a login screen) starts the X server (as root)
3) xdm sets up the screen, calls whatever programs (from configuration scripts), and displays the login box
4) the users logs in, and X kills itself (or does it?) and restarts running as the users process
5) xdm runs the session scripts (usually XSession, which in my case i modified to scripts so every user has the same script ( /usr/share/.Xrc )
6) X fully takes over

what i want is to setup a script (either /usr/share/.Xrc , or some other script that gets called when a use logs in, but before they can do anything) to startup the server for that specific user on a predefined display (or terminate and move viewing to that display) then terminate allowing for xdm to restart on terminal 7 (ctrl alt f7) so users can just press the keys so they can log in with no hassle

if all else fails tho, i can just setup xdm to start 4 displays ... but i rather not, as i want it to spawn X on certain terminals as needed

darthtux : thanks ill look into that link and see if it can help

I see. Misunderstanding, sorry .