start X when starting linux 

> in Debian,
>
> - how can I start x server when linux is booted?

edit /etc/inittab so that the default runlevel is 5

> - How can I specify the initial X mode? i.e., the color deep is 16
> instead of 8, the resolution is 1024*768 instead of 640*480.

edit /etc/XF86Config so that the defaultcolordepth is 16, and reorder the listed resolutions so that 1024x768 is first.

> - How can I tweak the refreash rate?

run XF86Setup

documented on: 2000.05.23 Tue 22:25:25

switching to graphical login 

> login to a terminal and then run "startx".  How
> can I switch to the KDE graphical login?
/etc/inittab change 'id:3:initdefault:' to 'id:5:initdefault:' and make sure /etc/X11/prefdm points to kdm

starting X automatically after loging in, without [gkx]dm 

To do this, just add the following line to the end of your ~/.bash_profile:

ps ax|grep -q "[ ]`which X`" || startx

OR you can add this line instead:

ps ax|grep -q "[ ]`which X`" || xinit >/dev/null 2>&1

The last one is faster, because it starts xinit right away. Startx calls on xinit anyway, so this one saves a process. There are differences though. Startx uses .xsession and .Xresources; xinit uses .xinitrc and .Xdefaults. The files have exactly the same function.

You can even save some more by adding exec before xinit:

ps ax|grep -q "[ ]`which X`" || exec xinit >/dev/null 2>&1

The use of exec prevents the shell from running after X starts.

gunnix 01-26-2005

how to run a single X program? 

Newsgroups:  gmane.linux.debian.user
Date:        Sat, 17 Jul 2004 11:03:53 -0700
> starts my GNOME/Metacity as usual, while `startx xterm` (or
> `startx mozilla-firefox` for that matter) end up in dropping
> me back to the commandline and displaying
> /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm:  bad command line option "mozilla-firefox"

use:

startx `which xterm`
startx `which mozilla-firefox`

By default, no path is set up.

William Ballard

Configuring X to start with just netscape 

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.x
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 00:48:12 GMT
> So, the question is, how can I configure X (say, on RH8) to start up a
> very basic window manager, with only netscape running?

You shouldn't even need a WM. just have a .xinitrc or .xsession that simply starts netscape with -geometry parameter to make it fill the screen. (I think it'll honor that :)

Rahul

Configuring X to start with just netscape 

> You shouldn't even need a WM. just have a .xinitrc or .xsession that

You may not _need_ a window-manager, but IMO it is a good idea to have one. Netscape will pop up lots of extra windows, and without a window manager they will definitely be in the way. Imagein dealing with popup ads.

David L. Johnson