xlockmore vs xscreensaver

rjj · 11-16-2019, 05:57 PM

slock https://tools.suckless.org/slock/

--
RJesus

dugan · 11-18-2019, 01:09 PM

You should know that, well, the routines and API calls used by MPlayer, SDL, and other full-screen apps and games to suspend the screensaver when they're running? They don't work on xscreensaver. They do work on xlockmore.

I worked out the technical information here:

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...9/#post6033039

ehartman · 11-18-2019, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugan

They don't work on xscreensaver. They do work on xlockmore.

VLC (at least the alien-compiled version I'm using) does work on xscreensaver.
For MPlayer I use a custom script to invoke it which surrounds the actual call with

Code:

xdg-screensaver suspend $WINDOWID
MPlayer <options> <filename(s)>
xdg-screensaver resume $WINDOWID

Does work rather well.

jmccue · 04-03-2020, 09:30 AM

Well just went to xlockmore from xscreensaver.

Due to covid-19, I decided to run BOINC on my laptop (on the server for a while) and I noticed between that and xscreensaver the CPU Temp spikes, even when using a blank screen.

I found this xidle/github.com and using that along with xlock (mode=blank) uses hardly any cpu cycles. The temp is higher than normal, but at least I cannot fry an egg on the CPU now

tramtrist · 04-03-2020, 09:37 AM

xlockmore though.. I'd like a way to disable CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE which can bypass X altogether when xlock is running.

FlinchX · 04-03-2020, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tramtrist

I'd like a way to disable CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE which can bypass X altogether when xlock is running.

slock documents how to do this in its manpage

Code:

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
     To make sure a locked screen can not be bypassed by switching VTs or
     killing the X server with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace, it is recommended to dis‐
     able both in xorg.conf(5) for maximum security:

     Section "ServerFlags"
             Option "DontVTSwitch" "True"
             Option "DontZap"      "True"
     EndSection

tramtrist · 04-03-2020, 12:35 PM

Thanks Flinch .. my understand is that will disable it completely. I'd only like to disable it while running the screensaver

I do use ctrl+alt+backspace out of habit after all these years legitimately sometimes...

FlinchX · 04-03-2020, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tramtrist

my understand is that will disable it completely. I'd only like to disable it while running the screensaver

I don't know if it's possible to change settings like this when Xorg is already running. I won't dare to claim it's not, but if it is and screensavers aren't doing it, isn't this a security flaw that's going for decades?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tramtrist

I do use ctrl+alt+backspace out of habit after all these years legitimately sometimes...

Isn't hitting Ctrl-Alt-Backspace pretty much the same as doing `killall Xorg` in a console?

tramtrist · 04-03-2020, 05:16 PM

Ah that's true.. Maybe I'll do that.

ttk · 04-07-2020, 12:52 AM

I've been using plain old xlock since the 1990's.

In recent years I've wrapped an "xlament" shell script around it so I don't have to remember all the command line options, and I also added some killall commands to suspend/restore select processes while my system is locked:

Quote:

#!/bin/sh
killall -STOP dosbox freeciv-gtk3 freeciv-server palemoon
/usr/X11/bin/xlock -mode lament -display :0 -erasemode no_fade
killall -CONT dosbox freeciv-gtk3 freeciv-server palemoon

Am I missing anything by not using something more recent?

redneonglow · 04-07-2020, 08:52 AM

xscreensaver with Electric Sheep.

ehartman · 04-07-2020, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneonglow

xscreensaver with Electric Sheep.

Me too!

JWJones · 04-07-2020, 01:57 PM

Another vote for slock.

FlinchX · 04-07-2020, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttk

I also added some killall commands to suspend/restore select processes while my system is locked

What's the exact implication of doing this? System using less CPU, thus computer using less power when locked?

ttk · 04-07-2020, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlinchX

What's the exact implication of doing this? System using less CPU, thus computer using less power when locked?

Yes, that's most of it. My laptop draws less power and generates less heat. Heat was less of an issue with my T530, but this new P73 runs a lot hotter, even with the CPU speed throttled.

Also, SIGSTOP'ing the browser helps stave off memory leaks. Pale Moon is a lot better about not leaking memory than Firefox, but it still happens a bit.

It makes locking my system a sort of half-way suspend, without the risks or overhead of suspend. All of the processes which would consume measurable CPU are denied CPU quanta by the kernel until SIGCONT is sent, so there's nothing going on.