> Is it possible to start an X session from the shell? yes. type "startx" at the command line, as any user, and the machine is transformed. you can end with alt-ctl-backspace. > Also, does X allow multiple sessions at once? what do you mean by this. you can have multiple windows open. type "xterm &" to launch an extra xterm, for example. Or you can log in from another x-capable machine and open windows.