Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:58:23 -0700 (PDT) From: "Thomas Mueller" <mueller6724@bellsouth.net> Cc: freebsd-x11@freebsd.org Subject: Re: [HEADS UP] switch default xorg version in 9.1 and later Message-ID: <235719.21386.bm@smtp112.sbc.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
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from Niclas Zeising: > As far as I know, it is still not possible to VT switch after X has been > started, this is a known shortcoming in the KMS driver. However, on > start X will load all needed kernel modules, so until you start X you > will have a working console. I remember reading about this, and it's like what I had with NetBSD, though that was with an old native X, part of NetBSD base system as opposed to pkgsrc. NetBSD had difficulty with ATI r128 video. I would need to be able to shutdown from X, which requires root permissions, hence the need for an xterm as root. I remember KDE in Linux Slackware had a menu item to start konsole as root (as well as same nonroot user). In NetBSD 5.1_STABLE i386, text console would go blank after 30 seconds inactivity, and I had to find my way in the dark to a root command prompt to run screenblank -u and that made the console visible again. So I ran X using icewm as root, also shutdown straight from X. I tried xdm in Linux Slackware 13.0. That allowed one login session with one user, window manager twm only. I tried xdm in NetBSD 6.1, it didn't start at all. In icewm, I could (Ctrl-Alt-Space) and run xterm -ls , then "login" at the command prompt and get a login prompt. I could then login as another nonroot user but not as root if I originally started X (icewm) as nonroot, but could login as nonroot if I originally started X as root. In either case, I could only get an xterm but not run a graphic application such as Seamonkey. I would also want to be able to quit one window manager to go to another window manager without going to a text console in between. Maybe I need to play with xinitrc.* files and experiment? > > My previous attempt with the new Xorg and KMS produced a completely nonrunnable X, immediately crashed, requiring Reset button, and I had a dilly of a time going back to the older Xorg. I might this time have an alternate xorg.conf with Driver="vesa" for fallback so as to retain access to Xorg if the new Xorg bombs out with Intel driver: haven't tested this but hope it would work. > Have you reported these issues somewhere earlier? Otherwise we need > much more info in debugging this. > Remember also that it is still possible to get the old xorg distribution > if needed. I reported this a few months ago. I might like to try again, both in FreeBSD (ports) and NetBSD (pkgsrc), would in both cases have an xorg.conf-vesa file ready with Driver="vesa" for fallback, hopefully to have a workable X even if the real one, using intel driver, is not workable. I hope but don't really know that this would work, might try first on FreeBSD-HEAD (current), which I haven't yet built or installed. Now I have to get to two things: putting together a new computer, and seeing if I can setup recalcitrant HP printer with hplip, this may delay my next response on this list. Finger error: I went to change a CD, hit the wrong button, Reset button by mistake, but fortunately I had saved this file at the right time and didn't lose anything. Tom
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