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Re: newbie Q1: launching Xserver as ordinary user



Will Lowe wrote:
> 
> > except as root.  The message refers to using xwrapper but I can't
> > find that, or else it says I can use xdm, presumably from /etc/initab
> > It deprecates using the setuid bit and I've not mastered that idea
> > anyway so I'm happy not to use it (feeble grin)
> The setuid bit lets you run the program as the person who ownes the file
> ... so since "root" owns the xserver,  you can run the program as if you
> were root.  The server needs "root" access to be able to do things like
> switch video modes,  but it's generally a bad idea to run stuff as root
> because of security holes and the ability to trash your system with a
> typo.  The xwrapper starts the server and drops it out of root mode,  but
> I'm not sure where it is.


	The 'wrapper' program is the binary /usr/X11R6/bin/X.  The server you
are using depends on your video card of course, but for example the svga
server is /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_SVGA.  The other servers will be named
similarly.


> > b) get xdm launched properly from the init
> Someplace in /etc/X11/config is the line "no-start-xdm" ... change it to
> "start-xdm" :)
>                                                         Will
> 
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-- 
Ed


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