Alternative login manager
 

Although I really like KDE and all its features, recently I started to play with XFCE.

One thing that I couldn't find so far is a login manager that does the following actions:
- allow multiple X sessions; and
- have the option to reboot/shutdown buttons.

So far I tried lxdm, but I couldn't make it work... I am probably missing something in the setup.

One that I really liked was SLIM, but unfortunately it doesn't have the above options.

So, please let me know which login managers you are using with Slackware and if possible, let me know if you used the above features.

Thanks.

I use gdm whenever I want to use a display manager. usually though I don't use one and simply use the console.

I also prefer to boot-up in run level three. startx

Hi Isaque,

you would be looking into the old gdm 2.x package
http://slackbuilds.org/repository/14.0/system/gdm/

in the config file you can use the following options:

gdm.conf file (bottum):

[servers]
0=Standard vt7
1=Standard -xf86config [filename] vt8


I don't think a newer login manager will be logical, as they use systemd/logind for your requests
the shutdown and log-off buttons should be normally in every login manager

runlevel 3: startx

Same here, ctrl+alt+f1-f6 for consoles, f7-f12 for X sessions, really KISS :D

But I understand what you're saying isaque , if you boot (or logout from X)
with KDM (or other) and press ctrl+alt+f8, it should display a new graphical login.
Maybe there's a configuration for this.

I even configured up my Debian to do that.

slim.

The OP has stated he already tried (and liked) SLiM but it didn't come with the KDM features he was looking for.

psionl0

slim does not allow multiple X sessions unless you start multiple slim instances on multiple TTY's(VTE's)

Right, but I really would like to have that only when I needed or it would be a waste of resources.

Here at home sometimes I need to step aside my main desktop because my son wants to play with it. So instead of closing everything in my desktop, I just open a new session for him, using KDE's "change user" feature.

That would be no problem if just me used the box, but my wife and kid use it too and although my son already know how to use a mouse, he barely know how to use a keyboard (he can type his user/pass, he's 4).

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

Isaque: below is a way of doing it which will allow you to start a second X display and keep your first X display intact.

(You might need to start the machine at runlevel 3 for the following to work. Edit /etc/inittab to set this option if so.)

When you start the machine at runlevel 3 type startx to start your own X session. On Slackware this starts X at virtual terminal VT7; you can check this by typing CTRL+ALT+F8 which will give you a blank TTY and then returning to your X session on VT7 by typing CTRL+ALT+F7.

To start a second display server on virtual terminal VT8 all you have to do is use the following command on one of the virtual terminals from CTRL+ALT+F2 to CTRL+ALT+F6. On Slackware these are reserved as text terminals and CTRL+ALT+F7 to CTRL+ALT+F12 are reserved for X displays.

Let's say you have KDE on VT7, which you started by typing startx when the machine boots up.

Now you can start Xfce on VT8 without touching your KDE:

If you type CTRL+ALT+F7 you will be returned to your KDE session on display :0. If you type CTRL+ALT+F8 you will be taken to your Xfce session on display :1

You can start other desktop environments or window managers on one of the other spare VTs.

For example:

Now you have three X sessions running: KDE at CTRL+ALT+F7, Xfce at CTRL+ALT+F8, and Fluxbox at CTRL+ALT+F9.

I hope this helps. It is easier than finding the right display manager, and on Slackware it is always sure to work.

Thanks for the info and detailed description, but I really would like to have a GUI option.

I think the problem here is with xfce, we have the same issue. I am the only geek in the house, wife and daughter just want the computer to 'work'. In xfce the action plugin has the switch user option greyed out, the others are all available, restart, logout etc.

We actually run KDE because we can log everyone in and switch user with a couple of clicks. Sure there are the ctrl-alt-F* options and I'm quite happy with that but they're not and I can see why. To them the computer is just the screen in the corner where they look at ebay and play games.

I think xfce needs a switch user option, whether the developers think they do is another matter.

I'm using a tweaked GDM inspired by the folks from SBo and the Salix distribution. I've themed it so it harmonizes perfectly with my (tweaked) Xfce desktop.

http://www.microlinux.fr/slackware/M....0-source/gdm/

If you use my packages, be sure to install the libgnomecanvas dependency.

Cheers,

Niki

I just use the command
kdmctl reserve
to get a new xsession with xfce or anything else, with kdm.

Hi Niki, I've installed Robby Workman's version before you posted here.
I'll mark this thread as solved, but can you please point what is better in your version, pls?

Thanks.

GDM is the guy
 

For those of you that had the same doubt I had, gdm is the guy you are looking for.

Install it, customize it (there is a lot of themes in gtk-look.org) and be happy.

Thanks everyone who answer this thread.