Slim configuration for #! November 2011

xaos52 · 2012-01-17 15:42:52

Episode 1: The login loop after fresh install

Example: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/177333/#p177333

Experienced users will create $HOME/.xsession or $HOME/..xinitrc, but this is not meant for linux gurus.

Solution:
enter "console" in the username field
this will start a login xterm
enter your user name and password
then run the command:

sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

You will be presented with a menu with 3 options
select option 2: openbox-session
close the xterm window (enter exit ot Ctrl+D)
enter your username and password
you will be logged in

explanation:
without an $HOME/.xsession or $HOME/.xinitrc, slim starts the xserver with this command:
++ exec /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/ck-launch-session /usr/bin/dbus-launch \
--exit-with-session x-session-manager
and x-session-manager defaults to lxsession via alternatives
lxsession terminates immediately without (apparently) doing anything (such is the nature of lxsession )
the session is terminated (--exit-with-session option)
you are dropped to console for a moment, then
slim shows login panel again to start a new session
and we are back at the beginning of the loop.

This is not a slim problem: it is a configuration problem.

Watch out for the next episode: I prefer WM such or such over openbox - how do I do that with slim ?

Coming shortly ...

Last edited by xaos52 (2012-01-17 15:46:25)

VastOne · 2012-01-17 17:23:13

Very nice work xaos52 - looking forward to more on this.

rippin · 2012-01-18 02:18:20

I am so please you found that Slim fix ... beat my forehead bloody over it last night!

xaos52 · 2012-01-18 13:52:38

Episode 2: testing window manager such-and-such

So, you want to test a new window-manager, and be able to return to your old window manager when you do not like it.

You have seen this post http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/117831/#p117831 by bigbenaugust and you want to see for yourself what it all looks like...

Start with installing the window-manager

sudo apt-get install jwm

You have slim running as your login manager. We will add the possibility to see JWM at work:

We will be editing /etc/slim.conf as root:

sudo geany /etc/slim.conf

Find the line that starts with "sessions":
It probably looks like this:

# Available sessions (first one is the default).
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
sessions            openbox-session

Just append the new window-manager to the end of that line, so it looks like this:

# Available sessions (first one is the default).
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
sessions            openbox-session,jwm

Save your modifications.

Log out of your current session:

Win+x

Click on 'Logout'.
You are presented with a new login screen

Pressing F1 multiple times will cycle through your configured window managers.

When JWM is selected, enter your user name and password, and ... tadaaaa

So far I have done this with icewm, jwm and... scrotwm

Yes, scrotwm ! No longer the privilege of guru's, though I would recommend reading up on its configuration before embarking on that one.
In scrotwm, to start a program: press Alt+p and type the name of the program, e.g. terminator to start a terminal window.
To quit from scrotwm, use the key combo Alt + Shift + q
Hurry all over the scrotwm thread http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/102580/#p102580 and join the fun smile

Next episode: I have made up my mind. I want window manager this-or-that as my default window-manager, so I can forget about pressing F1 every time I log in.

Coming to you shortly...

Last edited by xaos52 (2012-01-18 13:54:40)

xaos52 · 2012-01-25 09:04:14

Episode 3: Making scrotwm your default window manager

I do not know about you but I got really tired about having to press F1 every time I wanted to start X using scrotwm as my preferred window manager.

Well it is easily remedied using the following commands

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-session-manager x-session-manager /usr/bin/scrotwm 50

sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

The last command will give you a list of installed session/window managers.
The one you added should be the last in line.
Just enter the number corresponding to your preferred session/window manager

You can verify that it is now the default with

sudo update-alternatives --query x-session-manager

That is all there is to it.

Next time you start The X server using slim, no need to select scrotwm with F1. Just enter your user name and password, and you are dropped into the comforting arms of your preferred window manager[ess].

Of course you can use it for any window manager: just replace /usr/bin/scrotwm with the path to your preferred window-manager in above command.

PS: I know you can do this with creating a custom $HOME/.xsession or $HOME/.xinitrc, but I find this more elegant.

Next episode: Logout, shutdown or reboot from the login window.

Last edited by xaos52 (2012-01-25 09:05:42)

dkeg · 2012-01-25 11:48:26

wow, great stuff xaos52. Thank you! Haven't tried it yet, but next thing to experiment with will be this. Subscribing....

gutterslob · 2012-01-25 12:21:34

@xaos
I don't use SLiM, but will keep this thread in mind if/when I do feel the need to try it.
I like your writing style, btw.

Cheers. smile

vicshrike · 2012-01-25 12:44:25

Great how to xaos52, looking forward to the next episode.

2ManyDogs · 2012-01-27 03:10:49

Awesome how-to, thanks.

xaos52 wrote:

Next episode: Logout, shutdown or reboot from the login window.

Eagerly awaiting this next episode smile

xaos52 · 2012-01-28 14:12:38

Intermezzo: a duet brought to you by slim and Xfce.

Installing Xfce and configuring it to work under slim is quite easy.
By popular request - 2 votes ! - here is the how to:

□ Install the packages xfce4 and xfce4-goodies, if you have not done so already.

sudo apt-get install xfce4 xfce4-goodies

This will automatically add - in the postinst step - an alternative xfce4 session manager for x-session-manager.

□ All that is left to do is activate that session manager:

sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

You will be presented a menu of possible session managers.
Select the number that corresponds with xfce4-session-manager,
Press enter

Restart your system (this is not really necessary, but perhaps for now it is the easiest way - watch out for the next episode in this tutorial for how to log out from your slim session)

Do not use F1 to select your session. You want the default session.

Just fill in user name and password and you will be dropped in Xfce.

That is all, folks, a one-step solution to make Xfce your default session manager.

□ If you want to be able to select the session, first update /etc/slim.conf - like explained in episode 2: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/180522/#p180522. Add

xfce4-session

to the list of session/window managers. The order in which you specify them is the order in which they will show when you cycle through them using function key F1.

# Available sessions (first one is the default).
# The current chosen session name is replaced in the login_cmd
# above, so your login command can handle different sessions.
# see the xinitrc.sample file shipped with slim sources
sessions            openbox-session,xfce4-session,jwm,scrotwm

Save the file, reboot and try it out by pressing F1 repeatedly before filling in your user name and password.

Look out for the next - final? - episode of this quest for slim wisdom.

Have fun with #!

Last edited by xaos52 (2012-01-28 14:16:48)

rhowaldt · 2012-01-28 14:51:37

^ awesome. seen enough people asking for this stuff to be aware or its usefulness. great work on the how-to overall.

xaos52 · 2012-01-28 15:13:31

Thank you, rhowaldt smile

2ManyDogs · 2012-01-28 15:44:24

Thank you xaos, this will be very handy.

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#1 2012-01-17 15:42:52

Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#2 2012-01-17 17:23:13

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#3 2012-01-18 02:18:20

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#4 2012-01-18 13:52:38

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#5 2012-01-25 09:04:14

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#6 2012-01-25 11:48:26

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#7 2012-01-25 12:21:34

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#8 2012-01-25 12:44:25

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#9 2012-01-27 03:10:49

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#10 2012-01-28 14:12:38

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#11 2012-01-28 14:51:37

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#12 2012-01-28 15:13:31

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

#13 2012-01-28 15:44:24

Re: Slim configuration for #! November 2011

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