gdmflexiserver(1) User Commands gdmflexiserver(1)
NAME
gdmflexiserver - runs flexible (on demand) X servers
SYNOPSIS
gdmflexiserver [--authenticate] [--command=command] [--debug] [--monte-carlo-pi] [--no-lock] [--xnest] [gnome-std-options]
DESCRIPTION
gdmflexiserver runs flexible (on demand) X servers. gdmflexiserver allows a user to log in once and then quits. This is useful if you are
logged in as user A, and user B wants to log in quickly but user A does not wish to log out. The X server ensures that the virtual terminal
switching works transparently.
You can use gdmflexiserver to run a flexi-server as an Xnest, that is, an X server in a window. If more than one server is defined with
flexible=true, a dialog is displayed that lists all available flexible servers..
OPTIONS
The following options are supported:
--authenticate Authenticate before running --command. You can also use -a to specify this option.
--command=commanSend the specified protocol command to GDM. You can also use -c to specify this option.
--debug Debugging output. You can also use -d to specify this option.
--monte-carlo-pi
--no-lock Do not lock current screen. You can also use -l to specify this option.
--xnest Xnest mode. You can also use -n to specify this option.
gnome-std-optionStandard options available for use with most GNOME applications. See gnome-std-options(5) for more information.
EXTENDED DESCRIPTION
gdmflexiserver accepts the following commands with the --command option:
o ALL_SERVERS
o AUTH_LOCAL
o CLOSE
o CONSOLE_SERVERS
o FLEXI_XNEST
o FLEXI_XSERVER
o GREETERPIDS
o QUERY_LOGOUT_ACTION
o QUERY_VT
o SET_LOGOUT_ACTION
o SET_SAFE_LOGOUT_ACTION
o SET_VT
o UPDATE_CONFIG
o VERSION
Each command is described in detail in the following sections.
ALL_SERVERS
Description: List all servers, including console, remote, Xnest. This can be useful to figure out if the server you are on is
managed by the gdm daemon, by seeing whether it is in the list. It is also somewhat like the 'w' command but for
graphical sessions.
Supported since: 2.4.2.96
Arguments: None
Answers:
o OK server;server...
o server is display,logged-in-user
o logged-in-user can be empty if no user is logged in.
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
AUTH_LOCAL
Description: Set up this connection as authenticated for FLEXI_SERVER. All full-blown (non-Xnest) servers can be started only
from users logged in locally. Here, GDM assumes only users logged in from GDM. Users must pass the xauth MIT-MAGIC-
COOKIE-1 that they were passed before the connection is authenticated.
Note: The AUTH LOCAL command requires the --authenticate option, although only FLEXI_XSERVER uses this currently.
Supported since: 2.2.4.0
Arguments: xauth-cookie, in hex form with no 0x prefix
Answers:
o OK
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
CLOSE
Supported since: 2.2.4.0
Arguments: None
Answers: None
CONSOLE_SERVERS
Description: List all console servers, useful for Linux mostly. Does not list XDMCP and Xnest non-console servers.
Supported since: 2.2.4.0
Arguments: None
Answers:
o OK server;server...
o server is display,logged-in-user,vt-or-xnest-display
o logged-in-user can be empty if no user is logged in.
o vt can be -1 if not known or not supported. For example, on non-Linux.
o If the display is an Xnest display and is a console display (that is, an Xnest inside another console
display), the display is listed. Instead of vt, lists the parent display in standard form.
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
FLEXI_XNEST
Description: Start a new flexible Xnest server.
Supported since: 2.3.90.4
Note: Supported an older version from 2.2.4.0, later 2.2.4.2, but since 2.3.90.4 you must supply four arguments or
ERROR 100 will be returned. This will start Xnest using the XAUTHORITY file supplied and with the same uid as the
owner of that file (and the same as you supply). You must also supply the cookie as the third argument for this
display, to prove that you indeed are this user. Also, this file must be readable ONLY by this user, that is, have
a mode of 0600. If all of these conditions are not met, ERROR 100 is returned.
Note: The cookie should be the MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1, the first one that GDM can find in the XAUTHORITY file for this
display. If that is not what you use, you should generate one first. The cookie should be in hex form.
Arguments: display-to-run-on uid-of-requesting-user xauth-cookie-for-the-display xauth-file
Answers:
o OK display
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
1 No more flexi servers
2 Startup errors
3 X failed
4 X too busy
5 Xnest can't connect
6 No server binary
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
FLEXI_XSERVER
Description: Start a new X flexible server. Only supported on connection that passed AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.2.4.0
Arguments: xserver-type
If no argument specified, starts the standard x server.
Answers:
o OK display
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
1 No more flexi servers
2 Startup errors
3 X failed
4 X too busy
6 No server binary
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
GREETERPIDS
Description: List all greeter pids so that one can send HUP to them to re-read config. Only the root user can do that.
Supported since: 2.3.90.2
Arguments: None
Answers:
o OK pid;pid...
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
QUERY_LOGOUT_ACTION
Description: Query which logout actions are possible. Only supported on connection that passed AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.5.90.0
Arguments: None
Answers:
o OK action;action...
action is HALT, REBOOT, or SUSPEND. An empty list can also be returned if no action is possible. A '!' is
appended to an action if it was already set with SET_LOGOUT_ACTION or SET_SAFE_LOGOUT_ACTION. Note that
SET_LOGOUT_ACTION has precedence over SET_SAFE_LOGOUT_ACTION.
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
QUERY_VT
Description: Ask the daemon about the current virtual terminal. This is useful for logins that do not own /dev/console but are
still console logins. Only supported on Linux currently, otherwise will get ERROR 8. This is also the way to query
whether VT support is available in the daemon. Only supported on connection that passed AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.5.90.0
Arguments: None
Answers:
o OK vt-number
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
8 Virtual terminals not supported
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
SET_LOGOUT_ACTION
Description: Tell the daemon to halt, reboot, or suspend after slave process exits. Only supported on connection that passed
AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.5.90.0
Arguments: action
action is one of the following:
o NONE: Set exit action to 'none'
o HALT: Set exit action to 'halt'
o REBOOT: Set exit action to 'reboot'
o SUSPEND: Set exit action to 'suspend'
Answers:
o OK
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
7 Unknown logout action, or not available
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
SET_SAFE_LOGOUT_ACTION
Description: Tell the daemon to halt, reboot, or suspend after all users log out. If only one person logs out, this is the same
as SET_LOGOUT_ACTION. Note that SET_LOGOUT_ACTION has precendence over SET_SAFE_LOGOUT_ACTION if set to something
other than NONE. If no user is logged in, the action takes effect immediately. Only supported on connection that
passed AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.5.90.0
Arguments: action
action is one of the following:
o NONE: Set exit action to 'none'
o
HALT: Set exit action to 'halt'
o REBOOT: Set exit action to 'reboot'
o SUSPEND: Set exit action to 'suspend'
Answers:
o OK
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
7 Unknown logout action, or not available
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
SET_VT
Description: Change to the specified virtual terminal. This is useful for logins that do not own /dev/console but are still con-
sole logins. Only supported on Linux currently, otherwise will get ERROR 8. Only supported on connection that
passed AUTH_LOCAL.
Supported since: 2.5.90.0
Arguments: vt
Answers:
o OK
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
8 Virtual terminals not supported
9 Invalid virtual terminal number
100 Not authenticated
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
UPDATE_CONFIG
Description: Tell the daemon to update the configuration of the specified key. Any user can request that values are re-read but
the daemon caches the last date of the config file so a user cannot actually change any values unless they can
write the config file.
The following keys are currently supported:
o security/AllowRoot (2.3.90.2)
o security/AllowRemoteRoot (2.3.90.2)
o security/AllowRemoteAutoLogin (2.3.90.2)
o security/RetryDelay (2.3.90.2)
o security/DisallowTCP (2.4.2.0)
o daemon/Greeter (2.3.90.2)
o daemon/RemoteGreeter (2.3.90.2)
o xdmcp/Enable (2.3.90.2)
o xdmcp/Port (2.3.90.2)
o xdmcp/PARAMETERS (2.3.90.2) (pseudokey, all the parameters)
o xdmcp/MaxPending
o xdmcp/MaxSessions
o xdmcp/MaxWait
o xdmcp/DisplaysPerHost
o xdmcp/HonorIndirect
o xdmcp/MaxPendingIndirect
o xdmcp/MaxWaitIndirect
o xdmcp/PingIntervalSeconds (only affects new connections)
o daemon/TimedLogin (2.3.90.3)
o daemon/TimedLoginEnable (2.3.90.3)
o daemon/TimedLoginDelay (2.3.90.3)
o greeter/SystemMenu (2.3.90.3)
o greeter/ConfigAvailable (2.3.90.3)
o greeter/ChooserButton (2.4.2.0)
o greeter/SoundOnLoginFile (2.5.90.0)
o daemon/AddGtkModules (2.5.90.0)
o daemon/GtkModulesList (2.5.90.0)
Supported since: 2.3.90.2
Arguments: key, the base part of the key such as "security/AllowRemoteRoot"
Answers:
o OK
o ERROR error-number error-description
0 Not implemented
50 Unsupported key
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
VERSION
Description: Query version
Supported since: 2.2.4.0
Arguments: None
Answers:
o GDM gdm-version
o ERROR error-number error-description
200 Too many messages
999 Unknown error
EXAMPLES
Example 1: To See Console GDM Version
example% gdmflexiserver --command=VERSION
GDM 2.6.0.2
Example 2: To See All Servers
example% gdmflexiserver --command=ALL_SERVERS
OK :0,username
Example 3: To See Console Servers
example% gdmflexiserver --command=CONSOLE_SERVERS
OK :0,username,-1
FILES
The following files are used by this application:
/usr/bin/gdmflexiserver Executable for flexible (on demand) X servers
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|Availability |SUNWgnome-display-mgr |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|Interface stability |External |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
SEE ALSO
Latest version of the GNOME Desktop User Guide for your platform.
gdm(1), gdmXnestchooser(1), gdmphotosetup(1), gdmsetup(1), gdmthemetester(1), gdm-restart(1m), gdmconfig(1m), gnome-std-options(5)
NOTES
Original man page written by Martin K. Petersen <mkp@mkp.net>, George Lebl <jirka@5z.com>. Copyright (c) 1998, 1999 by Martin K. Petersen.
Copyright (c) 2001, 2003, 2004 by George Lebl. Copyright (c) 2003 by Red Hat, Inc.
Updated by Brian Cameron, Sun Microsystems Inc., 2004.
SunOS 5.10 1 Sep 2004 gdmflexiserver(1)