[SOLVED] tty and xdm - getting both
 

Hi!

I have enabled rc.4 by modifying id:3 to id:4 in inittab. But now I cannot access tty login screen, because it stops after loading "kdm".

Anyway to get back my tty? (I am sure this is an oft asked question, but I cannot find any answers to this question :( )

The system is working as you configured. If you scroll down inittab you'll see a section labeled:

These are the standard console login getties in multiuser mode

Notice in this section that for consoles c1 through c5 there is no number 4 in each console list. That means in runlevel 4, the console is unavailable in those consoles.

Notice that the number 4 is listed for console c6. When in runlevel 4, console 6 (tty6) is available. With the stock Slackware configuration, if you want direct access to a console while in runlevel 4, then press Ctrl-Alt-F6 to toggle to the tty 6 screen.

Traditionally, (Ctrl)-Alt-F1 through (Ctrl)-Alt-F6 is reserved for console screens and (Ctrl)-Alt-F7 through (Ctrl)-Alt-F12 for X sessions. Therefore if you are in X using runlevel 4, press Ctrl-Alt-F6 to toggle to console 6 and Alt-F7 to return to the first X session. Typically the Ctrl key is not needed when toggling in runlevel 3. The Ctrl key is an extra modifier key needed when in X.

You can modify inittab as you desire. Mine looks like this:

c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux
c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux
c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux
c4:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux
c5:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux
c6:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux

With this configuration I have access to all 6 console screens when in runlevel 3 and access to tty 4 through 6 when in runlevel 4.

To expand upon this refer to:

Configuring Slackware for a GUI Startup - Part I
Configuring Slackware for a GUI Startup - Part II

With that said, there is a more elegant method to have access to both runlevel 3 and runlevel 4, regardless of which one is the default in inittab. Merely add both options to your boot loader configuration. For this simple tweak refer to:

Configuring Slackware for a GUI and a Command Line Startup

I hope this helps.

Thanks! This is exactly what I wanted :)

(I have a habit of working on tty4 :p)