[SOLVED] How to change the session type with xdm?

linuxuser7 · 06-05-2018, 12:00 PM

For a diagnostic reason, I need to use xdm as my display manager. However, with xdm there is not a session menu that I can see and so I log into a default session. Is there anyway (e.g. a config file) where I can set the default session? This is important because I'm trying to diagnose a particular session (xfce) and xdm takes me into KDE.

Thanks.

rokytnji · 06-05-2018, 12:11 PM

In your shoes. I would try using

Code:

locate xdm

in terminal and see if any config files show up in there.

Usually when in a bind. I read up on what has stumped me using the arch wiki

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/display_manager

linuxuser7 · 06-05-2018, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

In your shoes. I would try using

Code:

locate xdm

in terminal and see if any config files show up in there.

Usually when in a bind. I read up on what has stumped me using the arch wiki

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/display_manager

Thanks, but the locate command came back that it couldn't stat xdm.

I'll definitely take a look at the arch wiki. I did Bing search and I'm surprised more people don't have this question. It seems rather basic.

GazL · 06-05-2018, 02:19 PM

'xdm' typically runs /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession, which in turn will usually run the users $HOME/.xsession if it exists. If you copy xfce's xinitrc file to the users .xsession file then xfce will start when that user logs in via xdm.

I say "usually" because it depends on how your distro has customised Xdm's Xsession file.

linuxuser7 · 06-05-2018, 02:58 PM

Thank you guys for the help. I found the answer in the Arch wiki.

I am running openSUSE Tumbleweed. For someone coming by in the future, I will say that you need an .xsession file in your home directory. You might have to create it (I did) and do a

Code:

 chmod 700 .xsession

Put the session you want (e.g. kde) in the .xsession file such as

Code:

 startkde

Make sure you know what to put in for your session like the startkde above or have a second account, or else you could get locked out and have to resort to the console to straighten things out.