This is an archive of past FreeBSD releases; it's part of the FreeBSD Documentation Archive.

How do I start XDM from the <code>/etc/ttys</code> file ? Frequently Asked Questions for FreeBSD 2.X : Miscellaneous Questions : How do I start XDM from the /etc/ttys file ?
Previous: How do I increase the number of virtual consoles?
Next: What's FreeBSD-current?

7.19. How do I start XDM from the /etc/ttys file ?

Starting xdm via /etc/ttys is a Bad Thing. I don't know why this crept into some README file.

Start it from your rc.local, and be explicit about how it has to start. If this is your last action in rc.local, put a ``sleep 1'' behind, to allow xdm to properly daemonize before the rc shell exits.

xdm should be started without any arguments (i.e., as a daemon).

The Xserver config file (default: /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xdm/Xservers) should contain the line:

            :0 local /usr/X11R6/bin/X :0 vt08 -wm

Of course, you can omit the ``-wm'' if you don't like it, but the ``vt08'' is quite important -- it must point to a vt that won't be used by getty's about a second later.

Frequently Asked Questions for FreeBSD 2.X : Miscellaneous Questions : How do I start XDM from the /etc/ttys file ?
Previous: How do I increase the number of virtual consoles?
Next: What's FreeBSD-current?