launching two Xorg desktops?

[Member stevesr0]

Hi all,

I am testing the new alpha which boots to Xorg. I need to use a script that needs to run before X is launched, in order to enable a program that I wish to run in X.

Since I haven’t been able to get the alpha to boot to a command prompt (posts on the alpha thread), I thought I might launch a second desktop – to a command prompt and then launch X on that desktop and test the program.

Works OK – except, the new X desktop doesn’t respond to keystrokes or mouse.

I repeated this with an installed antiX 19 and (on this one machine), it freezes in an identical fashion.

Doesn’t respond to REISUB.

Since a computer running linux can be used simultaneously by more than one person (using multiple monitors, keyboards and mice)I am puzzled by this not working.

Appreciate any replies.

Thanks.

stevesr0

• This topic was modified 3 months ago by stevesr0.

[Member techore]

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After reading your post, I am not sure that I understand. Also, I would recommend linking a post if you are going to reference one from another thread. The thread you referenced has 117 posts as of right now.

If you want to launch an application at start of xorg, using startx or xinit, update ~/.xinitrc by placing the program to launch before the window manager. However, I suspect you are using a display manager. If true, you may need to configure it to launch the program. Looks for its configuration file and read its man page or home page. There should be instructions.

[Moderator christophe]

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If you find you need to boot to the console instead of booting directly into an X session, look at this thread:

https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/startx-on-antix-base-and-full/

Maybe this will give you what you are looking for?

Edit:
If you are booting live (not installed), add “3” (without quotes) at the end of the bootloader command line. That should bring you to the console without x (runlevel 3).

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by christophe. Reason: Added another thought
• This reply was modified 3 months ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi techore and christophe,

Sorry to be unclear.

There are two points:

(1) The boot menu in grub usually has a line by line listing. In the alpha live usb, this isn’t present. I tried writing in “3”, “runlevel=3” and “telinit=3” at the grub command prompt, but that was ignored.

(2) I thought if I could switch to a second tty, I could create and execute the script and then launch Xorg and there. When I tried that, the second desktop launched but keyboard and mouse were unresponsive. That seems like a bug.

Neither of these points requires people to refer to other threads.

Thanks for responding.

stevesr0

[Member techore]

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stevesr0 wrote:

(2) I thought if I could switch to a second tty, I could create and execute the script and then launch Xorg and there. When I tried that, the second desktop launched but keyboard and mouse were unresponsive. That seems like a bug.

I cannot speak to item 1, but on item 2, I see a problem. If I am understanding you correctly, you are trying to start a second instance of xorg to solve a problem. As a result you are runnig into a new problem. Unsurprising since you are attempting to run two instances of xorg.

If you do not want to load the display manager thus xorg on boot, @christophe links provides a solution. However, if the problem is “I need to use a script that needs to run before X is launched” and you wish to continue using a display manager, the display manager will need to be configured to run the script. This assumes the script has an xorg dependency.

@stevesr0, what is the script? Let’s focus on your original goal versus troubleshooting a solution that is not working.

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi techore,

Thanks for responding.

It turns out the script is unnecessary for the full alpha iso to run Pipewire without systemd components (caprea “taught” me that after I opened this thread.)

However, since you ask, it is displayed in post #95369 in the “Pipewire without Systemd” thread (https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/pipewire-without-systemd/page/5/).

As to multiple Xorg instances running simultaneously on one Linux computer, I found this old example (https://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html).

I am not sure if the reason my second Xorg instance is unresponsive to mouse or keyboard (including REISUB) is because an xorg.conf which supports multiple simultaneous instances is required (see the Linux Gazette article link) or the alpha lacks something (a missing component) or because the antiX distro is by design blocked from doing multiple simultaneous Xorg instances.

As a permanent ignorant noobie, I hoped some knowledgeable antiX user (such as yourself) would enlighten me.

Thanks.

stevesr0

[Member techore]

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I am glad you found a solution to your original problem. 🙂

stevesr0 wrote:

As a permanent ignorant noobie, I hoped some knowledgeable antiX user (such as yourself) would enlighten me.

The article you linked from linuxgazette.net differed from your use case as I understood it. For example, the author has half-dozen display interfaces resulting corresponding display devices, keyboards, and mice and configured Gnome Display Manager to assign the aforementioned.

More details and better if outdated instructions related to the linuxgazette.net use case can be found at https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg_multiseat.

It is a very different scenario from yours.

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by techore.

[Member stevesr0]

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hi techore,

Thanks for the link.

I think it is clear that in order to do what I wanted, I needed at the least to set up xorg.conf to handle two separate users.

Since that was the likely reason for it not working <g>, and I no longer have any need (or desire) to set it up, I consider my question answered and the thread solved.

Thanks for taking the time to help me.

stevesr0

[Forum Admin Dave]

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All that should be needed is to boot like normal. Then once logged in press “Control + Alt + f6” and type “startx /usr/local/bin/desktop-session rox-icewm” and that tty will start the second xorg instance. For single user this is how I have been doing this for a while. I think you can specify another place / f key by adding –vt[0-9].

For simultaneous multiple user system (multiseat) I do have instructions here in the forum somewhere as well as older dated instructions. The newer ones use seatd IIRC the older ones do not.

Computers are like air conditioners. They work fine until you start opening Windows. ~Author Unknown

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi Dave,

On the one computer I tried booting a second Xorg desktop, it was unresponsive to either mouse or keyboard. I will retry with my antix 19 install, following your specific instructions and see whether the second desktop works.

Thanks.

stevesr0

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