Re: Debian X package shouldn't install XDM by default
CI> Could somebody, please, enlighten me!
CI> I've never been able to understand what the advantage of XDM (and the
CI> other XDM alternatives) is, over a console:
CI> mybox login: me
CI> Password:
CI> me@mybox:~> startx
CI> What's the use of all that XDM (and the like) extra cruft? The
CI> diffrence, as I see it, is 6 letters and a ^M. My recommendation has
CI> always been the above. But I want to see the light :)
One advantage is better security. You don't need suid X server
binary. X server needs root right to be able to work with you graphic
card. If you use xdm it starts X server itself. Because xdm runs as
root it can start X server as root without making X server binary
suid. If you start X server via startx your X server binary have to be
suid.
Another advantage is that you can have more fine control about who can
run X. If you don't have suid X server binaty usual users can't use
'startx' to start X ourselves. So you can put your restrictions via
xdm configs.
Another advantage is usage in network environment. XDM can provide
graphical remote login for X servers running on others boxes.
Probably there are exist other reasons why XDM is needed I've forgot
to mention.
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