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

[duportail <guy duportail be>]

On Monday 14 September 2009 20:32:35 Brian Cameron wrote:
> Paul:
> > 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
>
> Whether the displays are connected directly to the server or via some
> other mechanism typically doesn't matter to GDM.  From GDM's perspective
> these two use cases are similar.  Obviously, from an Xorg configuration
> standpoint, they are quite different.
>
> >> 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
>
> That explains why it works.
>
> >>> 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.
>
> Yes, it would be.
>
> >> 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.
>
> Right.
>
> >> 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.
>
> I'd think you would have problems, yes.  The new GDM does not support
> MultiSeat yet.
>
> >> 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.
>
> Probably not, unless you build the new GDM with the patches I pointed to
> in my previous email.  Hopefully these patches will get into the new GDM
> in the 2.30 timeframe, and then it should work for you.  We were hoping
> to get this work done in the 2.28 timeframe, but it ended up being much
> more work than we expected.
>
> Brian
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I am starting multiple xgl servers (up to 12) directly in gdm.conf.
In ubuntu 9.04 i could still downgrade to gdm 2.18 to get the multiseat 
working.In the new ubuntu 9.10 downgrading is almost impossible anymore and 
gdm is changed too much now.

guy