xdm does not work with xfce

[doug at safeport.com]

On Sun, 4 Sep 2016, Polytropon wrote:

> On Sun, 4 Sep 2016 03:29:36 -0400 (EDT), doug at safeport.com wrote:
>> To get xdm to work I copied /usr/local/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc to $home/.xinitrc.
>> I have a .xsession file contining startxfce4. I commented out the last line in
>> /usr/local/lib/X11/xdm/xdm-config.
>
> The xdm display manager does not use .xinitrc, it only uses .xsession.
> Only if you "starx", .xinitrc will be considered. For "maximum compatibility"
> you can use a "cascade" like this:
>
> File .xsession:
>
> 	#!/bin/csh
> 	source ~/.cshrc
> 	exec ~/.xinitrc
>
> File .xinitrc:
>
> 	#!/bin/sh
> 	[ -f ~/.xmodmaprc ] && xmodmap ~/.xmodmaprc
> 	numlockx
> 	# ... more "autostart" stuff if needed ...
> 	exec startxfce4
>
> Now all your settings can reside in .xinitrc, and when you use xdm, they will
> still be executed. The last line must start with "exec". After the program
> specified here exits, control should be given back to xdm.
>
> Note that this example assumes you have the C shell as your dialog shell,
> so all their settings (from .cshrc) will be "inherited" in shells started
> inside X.
>
>
>
>> I have output from xsession-errors and xdm.log. After the second login attempt
>> .xsession-error is rewriten to contain:
>>
>>        /usr/local/bin/startxfce4: X server already running on display :0
>>
>>        XDM authorization key matches an existing client!xfce4-session: Cannot
>>        open display: . Type 'xfce4-session --help' for usage.
>>
>> xdm works on a 10.1 system with xorg-7.7_1 and xfce-4.12_1.
>>
>> My questions: Is this a known issue? Should this be posted on the X11
>> mailing list?
>
> Somehow this error looks familiar to me, it occured once many years ago.
> The Xfce desktop cannot be started because xdm still occupies the display.
> This situation may rise when you start xdm manually, it does not quit
> properly, or several X "occupants" start at the same time.

Thank you I will try this. It's maddening actually. I 'fixed' this for my 10.1 
system but can not find any notes. Comparing /usr/local/lib/X11 and 
/usr/local/etc/X11/ finds no differences. My memory is that I assigned a display 
other than :0 to the login but the logs say differently.

As to .xinitrc not doing anything, not so in my install. If I delete the file I 
get no logins, with it there I get one. This is with starting xdm from 
/etc/ttys. A lot has changed going from 10.1 and xorg_1 to 10.3 and _2, my 
.xsession file in the older version:

    #!/bin/sh
    /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/local/bin/startxfce4

In _2 that gets an error saying ssh-agent is already running.

If I start xdm manually things are almost random. 'killall xdm' sometimes gives 
more logins, sometimes not. Sometimes clearing out dbus and xauth stuff works 
but more often, not. I spent a lot of time with man X and man X<you-name-it> 
with no grand upgrading of my understanding. My conclusion at this point, there 
is an error resulting in :0 being left in a "it's being used" state.

So in 10.1 I can login and out but can not switch consoles, in 10.3 that 
switches. I would rather have the later and can always start from userland.

As always, thank you for your suggestions,

Doug

_____
Douglas Denault
http://www.safeport.com
doug at safeport.com
Voice: 301-217-9220
   Fax: 301-217-9277