Bugzilla Bug 143878

Systems where gpm and X are started at boottime and where X reads the gpmdevice
can't boot X.
These systems use gpm to read the mousedevice when the user is in the console
but by doing this other programs (like X) can't read the mousedevice. So the
user that does not wish to close gpm each time he switches to X configures
/etc/X11/xorg.conf to use /dev/gpmdata as mousedevice (this is a device created
by gpm, gpm sends everything it receives on the real mousedevice to
/dev/gpmdata).
This configuration normally works perfect, but by default X is started before
gpm
which causes X to crash.

This can be fixed by letting X start after gpm by changing the line:
after bootmisc readahead-list ypbind autofs openvpn
to
after bootmisc readahead-list ypbind autofs openvpn gpm
in /etc/init.d/xdm (x11-apps/xinit)
(This is how I do it)

Another fix that would probably work but that i haven't tested is placing
the line:
before xdm
in /etc/init.d/gpm (sys-libs/gpm)

I just tested if placing 'before xdm' in /etc/init.d/gpm would work and it
does.
This fix is maybe better for the community because people that don't use gpm
won't be bothered.

Add gpm to the 'use' line in /etc/init.d/xdm, should have the same effect.

(In reply to comment #2)
> Add gpm to the 'use' line in /etc/init.d/xdm, should have the same effect.
> 

Won't that cause trouble for people that don't run gpm ?
'after' instead of 'use' seems better.
But 'before xdm' in /etc/init.d/gpm seems the best solution.

(In reply to comment #3)
> Won't that cause trouble for people that don't run gpm ?

No, "use" only requires it if it's available. You may be thinking of "need,"
which is different.

Fixed in CVS, sync in an hour and re-merge to get the fix.