Want to run multiple X server sessions on the same computer?

[mhelios]

Just came across a cool way to run two or more X sessions with GNOME/KDE and GDM on the same computer.

Firstly, there are many ways to accomplish this; one of the simplest being to switch to VT[1-6] and running `startx -- :1`. However, by default, the startx script will load the very minimal TWM environment which is probably not what most people want.

There's a handy program gdmflexiserver (Thx to Alexander Dalloz for pointing this out) that when run will save the state of your current X session, load the GDM login screen where you can then login as another user concurrently with the original X session. This X server will run on VT8 (or VT9 etc for more X sessions).
Once logged into GNOME as the other user, you can use the key-combo Ctrl + Alt + F7 to return to your previous X session and similarly Ctrl + Alt + F8 to get back to the new X session.
When you decide you want to get out of this secondary X session, just select Log Out from the menu and the X server will be killed and you'll return to the original session.

Just run /usr/bin/gdmflexiserver as regular user on the command-line and you're done!

[fjleal]

How about normally logging into Gnome (for instance), then switching to VT1, logging in text mode, and then starting a KDE session (under X :1), such that you would have both Gnome and KDE running?

[dragon]

When I try to run gdmflexiserver from a terminal within Gnome, xscreensaver is activated, the screen flashes a couple of times, a 'wait cursor' appears briefly, the screen flashes a couple more times and then goes blank. If I press a key or move the mouse, I'm returned to my original X session with xscreensaver prompting me for my password.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[hiberphoptik]

how about going to applications->system tools->new login



p.s. its hidden by default, just right click the menu, edit menus, check the New Login under system tools and it will appear

[brunson]

how about going to applications->system tools->new login

I'm not sure if you're being facetious or not, but what do you think applications->system tools->new login runs?

[lazlow]

hiber

Thanks, I wondered where that option went.

brunson

I assume it runs the app that you were mentioning?

Lazlow

[brentley]

from the terminal, you should be able to run:

startx -- :1

to get a second X session running as whichever user executed the above command.