Re: running another X from within X

[Erik Steffl <steffl@bigfoot.com>]

Jeremy wrote:
> 
> >Is it possible from within X to start another session of X on a diffent
> >console?  I know I can just Ctrl-Alt-F2, login, and then startx.  Then I
> >could toggle between Ctrl-Alt-F7 and Ctrl-Alt-F8.  However, I would like
> >to accomplish the same thing without dropping down to a console.  When I
> >try to do this from an xterm, I get a message about not being authorized
> >to run the X server.  Root, however, can do it.  Any suggestions?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Brian
> 
> I've found 2 different things that work.  One is by running Xnest.  (perhaps
> I'm not doing it right, but I seem to have to start up the window manager
> seperately when I do that)  That allows you to start a new X session in a
> window within your current one.  "man Xnest" for details.
> 
> My other method is that I have startx aliased to "startx -- :1" for my root
> account, so if I need a root X session, I can just pop open an xterm, su to
> root, type startx, and it automatically starts a new X session in the next
> display (F8)  I then can switch between the two like normal (Ctrl+Alt+Fn),
> and when I exit it, it automatically drops me back to my other X display.  I
> find this to work the best, buf if you need both X sessions on the screen at
> the same time, use Xnest.
> 
> HTH,
> Jeremy

  you can also use vnc - start as many vnc servers as you want and use
vnc viewers (on the same machine or other machines) to view them. it's
even packaged for debian (you nedd vncserver and xvncviewer, there's
also viewer for svga).

	erik