Does that mean that the line :1 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 vt08 in /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers starts only an inaccessible server on vt08?
But the other way with "xterm -display :1 &", "CRTL-ALT-F8" and "kde (Enter)" opens a truly new session for a different user?

:0 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :0 vt07 (this starts an Xserver on vt07, the normal), i.e you can run multiple Xservers on one machine -- right now I have 3 up and running on this SuSE 8.1 machine, vt07, vt08 and vt09.
:1 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 vt08 (starts a second Xserver on vt08)
When you reboot, you will see a kdm login on vt07 as normal, if you switch to vt08 (using CTRL-ALT-PF8), you see a second kdm login screen - assuming you are using KDE, if you click on KDE, it reveals Gnome and other desktops available.... you can login on KDE on one and Gnome on the other if you so wish - your choices entirely. The other way, "xterm -display :1 -e login <user> &" sends an xterm to vt08 which asks for the password for the user, then you can start kde as that user after switching to vt08.

Okay, here is the Problem then. On my SuSE 8.1 no second xserver with kdm is shown on vt08. But why?? I have altered /etc/xdm/XServers exactly like shown but nothing happens. Any ideas?


I'll try that too, just to learn. Usually I did <Ctrl><Alt><F2>, login in text mode, then startx -- :2 (blanks as shown) and get then a fully deployed KDE screen on vt08 with <F8>. Still, I would like to be able to use the automatic way you found ...

OK, it's nice to play and learn new things. X has a number of neat things that make life easier, like I use my laptop (Linux, of course) to bring up CDE desktops for 3 separate domains on large Sun/Sun-type(Fujitsu Primepower) boxes - I would need 3 Sun workstations to do that, or logon and off each domain using just the one workstation.