Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:40:51 +0200 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Christian Graulund <cutulhu@gmail.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Understanding XDM Message-ID: <20120624224051.a413bce6.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <CA%2BMGFtwBbpPfXVLjLB_=FpOe22CmuhRj7L01=ffP0a96jvuT0A@mail.gmail.com> References: <CA%2BMGFtwBbpPfXVLjLB_=FpOe22CmuhRj7L01=ffP0a96jvuT0A@mail.gmail.com>
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On Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:19:54 +0200, Christian Graulund wrote: > Hello Guys, > > I just install FreeBSD 9, and after compiling Xorg, I started trying to > figure out how to install a Window Manager. > When Following the handbook, I suggest installing XDM. I want to use > something like Openbox, as my window manager, and I can't figure out if > Openbox is a replacement for XDM, or something on top of XDM. Not quite. XDM is the X display manager, a "GUI replacement" for the login mechanism. It initiates the X session for the user and loads his startup file, which calls the desired window manager. > I now there > are alternative to XDM directly like LightDM ect., but the same questions > applies to them. Yes, there are other X display managers like KDM, GDM or WDM. They are designed to work with a specific environment (KDE, Gnome, WindowMaker in this example), but they can be used independently. > So what is the function of XDM (or alternatives), and is it necessary to > have to run a WM, or DE for that sake? No, it's not neccessary. You can still perform the login the traditional way (text mode console) and then call "startx" to initiate your X session with the window manager or desktop environment you want. See "man xdm" for details. Also see your ~/.xinitrc and ~/.xsession files for controlling what to do _after_ successful login, in your example to "exec openbox" as the last step. Sidenote: I've been using both XDM and WDM with WindowMaker and XFCE (not Xfce -- XFCE means version 3, Xfce means version 4). Works great. I prefer XDM, most secure and easy to use. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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