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Two X sessions on the same monitor

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  Two X sessions on the same monitor Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> - 2015-03-21 18:03 +0000
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2015-03-21 19:05 +0000
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2015-03-21 14:10 -0500
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2015-03-21 14:25 -0500
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Unknown <dog@gmail.com> - 2015-05-25 02:34 +0000
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor "David W. Hodgins" <dwhodgins@nomail.afraid.org> - 2015-03-21 15:25 -0400
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor J G Miller <miller@yoyo.ORG> - 2015-03-21 20:28 +0000
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Bill Marcum <bill.marcum57@gmail.com> - 2015-03-21 17:04 -0400
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2015-03-22 02:18 +0000
        Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2015-03-22 09:07 +0000
          Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2015-03-22 07:50 -0700
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> - 2015-03-21 22:16 +0000
    Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Stan Bischof <stan@worldbadminton.com> - 2015-03-25 15:59 +0000
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Stan Bischof <stan@worldbadminton.com> - 2015-03-26 14:52 +0000
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Unknown <dog@gmail.com> - 2015-05-25 02:09 +0000
        Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor William Unruh <unruh@invalid.ca> - 2015-05-25 02:25 +0000
      Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Unknown <dog@gmail.com> - 2015-05-25 02:59 +0000
        Re: Two X sessions on the same monitor Stan Bischof <stan@worldbadminton.com> - 2015-05-29 17:42 +0000

#14189 — Two X sessions on the same monitor

	I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and 
independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one 
session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be 
able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard 
sequence, so that the other session becomes active. 

	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up 
a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from 
virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will 
just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be 
arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in one 
of those virtual terminals.

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#14190

On 21/03/15 18:03, Clark Smith wrote:
> 	I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>
> 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be
> arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in one
> of those virtual terminals.
>

I have done it - and as you say, CTRL-ALT-F5/6/7 to switch between them.

Unfortunately it was a while (years) ago and I forgot how - the exactly 
semantics are  a bit distro dependent.

However, it is possible, and it can be done cleanly and it makes a super 
way to share a computer if 2-3 people regularly use it.

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#14191

At Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:03:02 +0000 (UTC) Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:

> 
> 	I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and 
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one 
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be 
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard 
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active. 
> 
> 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up 
> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from 
> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will 
> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be 
> arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in one 
> of those virtual terminals.

Yes, this is trivially possible. You just need to start the X11 session with a
*different* display. By default, display 0 is used (:0), but by selecting a
different display a new X11 session can be started. The only limits are
a function of the usually resources: CPU cycles and available memory (eg you 
better have enough CPU cycles and RAM).  The new X server will use another 
virtual terminal, typically the first X Server on a typical Linux system will 
use terminal 7 (ctl+alt+Fn7), the next (second) one will be on terminal 8 
(ctl+alt+Fn8).  The third will be on terminal 9, and so on.

Complete documentation here:

man xinit
man startx
man Xserver
man Xorg

(The above assumes you are starting the additional X server(s) from a logged
in (virtual) terminal using startx or xinit. If you want it to be started at
boot time you will have to muck with your Display Manager (eg xdm, gdm,
lightdm, kdm, whatever) config files.)

> 
>                                                    

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com       -- Webhosting Services
                                                                                                                      

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#14192

At Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:03:09 -0500 Zaphod Beeblebrox <none@none.org> wrote:

> 
> On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:03:02 +0000, Clark Smith wrote:
> 
> > I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
> > independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
> > session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
> > able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
> > sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
> > 
> > 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
> > a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
> > virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
> > just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be
> > arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in
> > one of those virtual terminals.
> 
> In the old days, you'd do this with 'startx -- :1' in a spare VT, and
> it would do what was in ~/.xsession. So you'd need to customize that
> script to do different things depending on the value of $DISPLAY. You
> may still be able to do that with Slackware, but all the other dists
> have made the login/startup process more complicated, and put that
> stuff in whatever they use to replace xdm (there are so many xdm
> replacements these days). So your mileage will definitely vary
> depending on your distro.

You can *still* do this if you login to one of the other consoles (virtual 
TTYs).  CentOS 5 and 6 still have the option of starting in runlevel 3, where 
you can then start X11 the 'old fashioned' way.  I *think* it is possible with 
CentOS 7 or Fedora, but I don't know the systemd magic to do that.  Debian can 
also be set up to start without a GUI login screen.

OTOH, it is possible to edit the config file(s) for xdm or its many 
replacements to fire up multiple X11 sessions.


> 
>       

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software        -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com       -- Webhosting Services
                                                                               

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#14866

On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:25:27 -0500, Robert Heller wrote:

> At Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:03:09 -0500 Zaphod Beeblebrox <none@none.org>
> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:03:02 +0000, Clark Smith wrote:
>> 
>> > I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
>> > independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only
>> > one session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I
>> > should be able to switch from one session to the other with a simple
>> > keyboard sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>> > 
>> > 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
>> > a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
>> > virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others
>> > will just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things
>> > could be arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same
>> > time, in one of those virtual terminals.
>> 
>> In the old days, you'd do this with 'startx -- :1' in a spare VT, and
>> it would do what was in ~/.xsession. So you'd need to customize that
>> script to do different things depending on the value of $DISPLAY. You
>> may still be able to do that with Slackware, but all the other dists
>> have made the login/startup process more complicated, and put that
>> stuff in whatever they use to replace xdm (there are so many xdm
>> replacements these days). So your mileage will definitely vary
>> depending on your distro.
> 
> You can *still* do this if you login to one of the other consoles
> (virtual TTYs).  CentOS 5 and 6 still have the option of starting in
> runlevel 3, where you can then start X11 the 'old fashioned' way.  I
> *think* it is possible with CentOS 7 or Fedora, but I don't know the
> systemd magic to do that.  Debian can also be set up to start without a
> GUI login screen.
> 
Yes, I can't remember the details but:
 my rPi [debian based] is set to boot into X [why did I do/allow that]
and then just start playing the TTSound-files on the USB stik.
My only control [also to navigate/mark the *.ogg] is the on/off power
switch -- think time-division-multiplexing.

> OTOH, it is possible to edit the config file(s) for xdm or its many
> replacements to fire up multiple X11 sessions.
> 
> 
> 
>>

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#14193

On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:03:02 -0400, Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:

> 	I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
> 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be

Once you have the first X session running on display :0, switch to
a terminal session with alt+ctrl+fn, login, and then run
startx -- :1
The alt+ctrl+fn keys can then be used to switch between the X sessions.
Change :1 to :2 for a third display, etc.

Regards, Dave Hodgins

-- 
Change nomail.afraid.org to ody.ca to reply by email.
(nomail.afraid.org has been set up specifically for
use in usenet. Feel free to use it yourself.)

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#14198

On Saturday, March 21st, 2015, at 15:25:50 -0400, David W. Hodgins explained:

> Once you have the first X session running on display :0, switch to
> a terminal session with alt+ctrl+fn, login, and then run
> startx -- :1
> The alt+ctrl+fn keys can then be used to switch between the X sessions.
> Change :1 to :2 for a third display, etc.

Indeed so, but one needs to exercise caution with the display numbers if
one has a VNCserver running automatically(eg from lightdm) or expect a
VNCserver to be associated with a particular low display number.

Also if going the X server via each virtual console, it would be worth
considering not running a display manager at all, and replacing GettY
with Quingy to making things more automated with a menu choice of text
console or an Xsession with the desired desktop/window manager.

     <http://qingy.sourceforge.NET/>

QUOTE

   qingy is a replacement for getty. Written in C, it uses DirectFB to
   provide a fast, nice GUI without the overhead of the X Windows System.

   It allows the user to log in and start the session of his choice
   (text console, gnome, kde, wmaker, 


UNQUOTE

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#14200

On 03/21/2015 02:03 PM, Clark Smith wrote:
> 	I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>
> 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be
> arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in one
> of those virtual terminals.
>
With Ubuntu or Mint you can lock the screen and then "Switch User" to 
start another session as another user. You can switch between them
by pressing F7, F8, etc and typing the user's password.

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#14206

On 21/03/15 21:04, Bill Marcum wrote:
> On 03/21/2015 02:03 PM, Clark Smith wrote:
>>     I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
>> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
>> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
>> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
>> sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>>
>>     Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
>> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
>> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
>> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be
>> arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in one
>> of those virtual terminals.
>>
> With Ubuntu or Mint you can lock the screen and then "Switch User" to
> start another session as another user. You can switch between them
> by pressing F7, F8, etc and typing the user's password.

In MATE at least you can have an infinite number of 'workspaces' which 
amount to 'separate screens' with the only proviso being you cant see 
two at once.

Just add the workspace switcher to the task bar.

Its the one thing that for me makes MATE/Mint streets ahead of any 
windows/Mac offering


-- 
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the 
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. – Erwin Knoll

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#14209

On 22/03/15 02:18, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> In MATE at least you can have an infinite number of 'workspaces' which
> amount to 'separate screens' with the only proviso being you cant see
> two at once.
>
> Just add the workspace switcher to the task bar.
>
> Its the one thing that for me makes MATE/Mint streets ahead of any
> windows/Mac offering

Yes...

But most window managers have multiple workspaces - and they're great 
for a single user - but not for several users with their own login.

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#14211

On 03/22/2015 02:07 AM, Tim Watts wrote:
> On 22/03/15 02:18, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> In MATE at least you can have an infinite number of 'workspaces' which
>> amount to 'separate screens' with the only proviso being you cant see
>> two at once.
>>
>> Just add the workspace switcher to the task bar.
>>
>> Its the one thing that for me makes MATE/Mint streets ahead of any
>> windows/Mac offering
>
> Yes...
>
> But most window managers have multiple workspaces - and they're great
> for a single user - but not for several users with their own login.
>

	PC Linux OS has the Full Monty distribution which forces
the User to use at least 6 Virtual Desktops.   I started out with
4 on the distributions I use and on one older machine cut that to
one with only 8 Megabytes of Video Ram available. That was Mandriva 
2009.1.  Most of the common Window managers will permit as many VDs as 
you think you need.

	If I had other users on this machine I would allow additional
users only about one simple Virtual Desktop each.  You can in KDE
set an effect that allows all VDs to be viewed on the same screen.

	bliss

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#14202

On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:03:02 +0000, Clark Smith wrote:

> I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
> 
> 	Is this at all possible? I understand that an X session takes up
> a virtual terminal; in Linux, one can type ctl+alt+Fn* to move from
> virtual terminal. Only one will be an X session, whereas the others will
> just be dumb Linux sessions. I was just wondering if things could be
> arranged so that another X session could be run, at the same time, in
> one of those virtual terminals.

	Thank everybody for your feedback. I am using Slackware and no 
display manager, which implies that I can use startx from different 
virtual terminals to achieve what I want in a straightforward manner.

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#14251

Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:
>        I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and 
> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one 
> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be 
> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard 
> sequence, so that the other session becomes active. 
> 
>        Is this at all possible? 

Indeed - very possible. When I am in "admin" mode I normally have 
several unix logins as well as several Windows logins all active at once 
on the same monitor. RDP for Windows and separate X servers for the 
various unix boxes and all is well. My norm is to have each one 
full-screen (or close to full-screen) in its own workspace so that each 
appears more-or-less independent. Works great and allows me to switch 
between systems instantly. 

When I have more than several systems to admin (I've had as many as 20 
or so active at once) I tile the displays rather than putting each on 
its own workspace. Obviously a large hi-res display is desirable here.

My norm is to work with Windows as the base
system but one could certainly do the same from linux or other          
platforms.

so bottom line-- yes, what you ask for is very doable.

Stan

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#14261

Stan Bischof <stan@worldbadminton.com> wrote:
> Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>        I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and 
>> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only one 
>> session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I should be 
>> able to switch from one session to the other with a simple keyboard 
>> sequence, so that the other session becomes active. 
>> 
>>        Is this at all possible? 
> 
> Indeed - very possible. When I am in "admin" mode I normally have 
> several unix logins as well as several Windows logins all active at once 
> on the same monitor. RDP for Windows and separate X servers for the 
> various unix boxes and all is well. My norm is to have each one 
> full-screen (or close to full-screen) in its own workspace so that each 
> appears more-or-less independent. Works great and allows me to switch 
> between systems instantly. 
> 

I should point out that I use RDP and xmdcp. In principle one can also 
use VNC, but in my case that is not an option since for some 
inexplicable reason VNC in Windows is limited to a single session/login 
and of course I need multiple. Of course I haven't looked in a couple of 
years so it is entirely possible that this limitation has been fixed.

In any case, multiple systems/logins/etc. on one 
display/keyboard/pointer are a great solution if you have many systems 
to manage.

Stan

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#14864

On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:59:58 +0000, Stan Bischof wrote:

> Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>        I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
>> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only
>> one session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I
>> should be able to switch from one session to the other with a simple
>> keyboard sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>> 
>>        Is this at all possible?
> 
> Indeed - very possible. When I am in "admin" mode I normally have
> several unix logins as well as several Windows logins all active at once
> on the same monitor. RDP for Windows and separate X servers for the
> various unix boxes and all is well. My norm is to have each one
> full-screen (or close to full-screen) in its own workspace so that each
> appears more-or-less independent. Works great and allows me to switch
> between systems instantly.
> 
> When I have more than several systems to admin (I've had as many as 20
> or so active at once) I tile the displays rather than putting each on
> its own workspace. Obviously a large hi-res display is desirable here.
> 
> My norm is to work with Windows as the base system but one could
> certainly do the same from linux or other platforms.
> 
> so bottom line-- yes, what you ask for is very doable.
> 
> Stan

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#14865

On 2015-05-25, Unknown <dog@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:59:58 +0000, Stan Bischof wrote:
>
>> Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>>        I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
>>> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only
>>> one session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I
>>> should be able to switch from one session to the other with a simple
>>> keyboard sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>>> 
>>>        Is this at all possible?
>> 
>> Indeed - very possible. When I am in "admin" mode I normally have
>> several unix logins as well as several Windows logins all active at once
>> on the same monitor. RDP for Windows and separate X servers for the
>> various unix boxes and all is well. My norm is to have each one
>> full-screen (or close to full-screen) in its own workspace so that each
>> appears more-or-less independent. Works great and allows me to switch
>> between systems instantly.

I think this is not what he meant

alt-ctl-F2
log in with your other user.
run
startx -- :1
to switch do alt-ctl-F1 (or depending on your distro, alt-ctl-F7)
or alt-ctl-F2  to get back.


This produces two separate X sessions for the two users. 

>> 
>> When I have more than several systems to admin (I've had as many as 20
>> or so active at once) I tile the displays rather than putting each on
>> its own workspace. Obviously a large hi-res display is desirable here.
>> 
>> My norm is to work with Windows as the base system but one could
>> certainly do the same from linux or other platforms.
>> 
>> so bottom line-- yes, what you ask for is very doable.
>> 
>> Stan
>

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#14867

On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:59:58 +0000, Stan Bischof wrote:

> Clark Smith <noaddress@nowhere.net> wrote:
>>        I would be interested to launch two simultaneous, separate and
>> independent X sessions on the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Only
>> one session would be active at a time, of course; but, ideally, I
>> should be able to switch from one session to the other with a simple
>> keyboard sequence, so that the other session becomes active.
>> 
>>        Is this at all possible?
> 
> Indeed - very possible. When I am in "admin" mode I normally have
> several unix logins as well as several Windows logins all active at once
> on the same monitor. RDP for Windows and separate X servers for the
> various unix boxes and all is well. My norm is to have each one
> full-screen (or close to full-screen) in its own workspace so that each
> appears more-or-less independent. Works great and allows me to switch
> between systems instantly.
> 
> When I have more than several systems to admin (I've had as many as 20
> or so active at once) I tile the displays rather than putting each on
> its own workspace. Obviously a large hi-res display is desirable here.
> 
> My norm is to work with Windows as the base system but one could
> certainly do the same from linux or other platforms.
> 
> so bottom line-- yes, what you ask for is very doable.
> 
> Stan

Let's have the code, apart from the self-promotion ?

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#14882

Unknown <dog@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> My norm is to work with Windows as the base system but one could
>> certainly do the same from linux or other platforms.
>> 
>> so bottom line-- yes, what you ask for is very doable.
>> 
>> Stan
> 
> Let's have the code, apart from the self-promotion ?

What code? I don't use anything custom. RDP and XDMCP are standards. Use 
any window manager you like. If you are asking for what I specifically 
use then on Windows I use mstsc (one copy for each Windows desktop) for 
RDP work and XMing (one copy for each unix desktop) as X server, 
along with XDesk or native Desktop for multiple desktops. 

Lots of other choices that would I expect work equally well. Nothing 
mysterious here- just standards that have been around for a very long 
time.

Stan

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