Re: [gdm-list] Multi-seat with multiple X-servers

[Paul van der Vlis <paul vandervlis nl>]

Brian Cameron schreef:
> 
> Paul:
> 
>> I use multiple X-servers on the same machine for multi-seat and I am
>> using GDM.
> 
> What do you mean when you say MultiSeat?  MultiSeat usually implies
> that you are running in a terminal-server-like environment where you
> have a single server and multiple displays, keyboards and mice, each
> one being managed separately by GDM.  This way a single server can
> provide separate desktops for people sitting in different seats.
> 
> Or do you mean MultiDisplay where you have a single seat but multiple
> monitors?  This sort of setup is often used in a single seat, but with
> multiple monitors set side-by-side so that you have a single login,
> and your user session spans the multiple monitors, providing you with a
> large desktop.

I have one server with 2 displays, 2 keyboards, 2 mice.
And I would like to build other ones, with more then 2 "seats".

It is not a terminal-server-like environment, every display hangs with a
cable directly at the server.

Maybe look here to get an idea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiseat_configuration

> What version of gdm are you using?  You can run
> "gdmflexiserver --version" or "gdmflexiserver --command=VERSION" to find
> out if you are not sure.

GDM 2.20.7

>> My multi-seat configuration is now completely in xorg.conf, I don't need
>> any setting in gdm.conf anymore.
>>
>> Because of that I don't expect any problems with the new GDM, or am I
>> wrong?
> 
> I think it depends on what sort of behavior you expect from GDM, and
> what version of GDM you are using.  GDM 2.20 and earlier have good
> support for MultiSeat, while GDM 2.21 and later are only able to
> manage a single local display (and additional XDMCP displays).

That sounds as a problem for me.

> If you are using Xinerama or some other Xorg configuration to make
> multiple monitors seems like a single display to GDM, then it should
> "just work".  In other words, I think both the old and new GDM support
> MultiDisplay reasonably well.

It's not multidisplay, it's multiseat. With on this machine 2 videocards
and 2 X-servers.

> However, if you are using the new GDM and expecting GDM to separately
> manage each display in a MultiSeat fashion, then I do not think that
> is possible with the new GDM.  If you have found some trick to make
> the new GDM work with MultiSeat via only configuring xorg.conf, then I,
> for one, would be interested to hear how you got this working.

I am using the old one, and I would like to know if I get problems with
the new one... I will add my xorg.conf as an attachment.

> If you are applying the ConsoleKit and GDM patches as mentioned
> in bugs.freedesktop.org bug #19333 and bugzilla.gnome.org bug #536355,
> then this does add MultiSeat support and should allow you to configure
> GDM to work in this way.  However, this is bleeding edge code, and may
> have bugs and the configuration interfaces may not be fully stable yet.

I saw it, and I would like to know if I need it. And if it would work
for me.

With regards,
Paul van der Vlis.


-- 
http://www.vandervlis.nl/

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerFlags"
     Option         "DefaultServerLayout" "seat0"
     Option         "AllowMouseOpenFail"  "true"
     Option         "AutoAddDevices"      "false"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
       Identifier  "seat0"
       Screen    0  "screen0" 0 0
       InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
       InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
       Identifier  "seat1"
       Screen   1   "screen1" 0 0
       InputDevice    "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
       InputDevice    "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load           "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"keyboard0"
	Driver		"evdev"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
        Option          "Device" "/dev/input/by-path/pci-0000:00:10.3-usb-0:1.2:1.0-event-kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "keyboard1"
        Driver          "evdev"
        Option          "XkbRules"      "xorg"
        Option          "Device" "/dev/input/by-path/pci-0000:00:10.3-usb-0:1.4.1:1.0-event-kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"mouse0"
	Driver		"evdev"
        Option           "Device" "/dev/input/by-path/pci-0000:00:10.3-usb-0:1.3:1.0-event-mouse"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "mouse1"
        Driver          "evdev"
        Option         "Device" "/dev/input/by-path/pci-0000:00:10.3-usb-0:1.4.2:1.0-event-mouse"
EndSection


Section "Device"
	Identifier	"card0"
        Driver        "mga"
        BusID       "PCI:01:00:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "card1"
        Driver "sis"
        BusID        "PCI:00:11:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"monitor0"
        HorizSync       30-65
        VertRefresh     50-75
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier      "monitor1"
        HorizSync       30-65
        VertRefresh     50-70
EndSection


Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"screen0"
	Monitor		"monitor0"
        Device          "card0"
        DefaultDepth    24
        SubSection "Display"
           Depth           24
           Modes           "1680x1050"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
       Identifier     "screen1"
       Monitor        "monitor1"
       Device         "card1"
       DefaultDepth    16
       SubSection "Display"
          Depth           16
          Modes           "1024x768"
       EndSubSection
EndSection