Symptom/description: kdm starts fine but fails to start (emerged) window managers Reason: Scripts in /usr/X11R6/bin/wm/ which are necessary to start the emerged window managers are missing or wrong. The following files are present in /usr/X11R6/bin/wm/: kde-2.2.2 kdmrc xsession bash-2.05a# cat kde-2.2.2 #!/bin/sh /usr/kde/3/bin/startkde kdmrc is empty bash-2.05a# cat xsession #!/bin/sh ~/.xsession The kde-2.2.2 script is wrong as it tries to execute 'startkde' of kde 3 instead of kde 2 (Note: I have not emerged kde 3 yet). Scripts to start other wms (although I did emerge them) are missing completely. Concerned ebuild script: kde-base/kdebase-2.2.2-r1.ebuild Solution (quickfix): add the scripts manually to /usr/X11R6/bin/wm/, e.g. bash-2.05a# cat kde #!/bin/sh /usr/kde/2/bin/startkde bash-2.05a# cat blackbox #!/bin/sh blackbox Make sure the scripts are executable. Append entries for these window manager start scripts to /usr/kde/2/share/config/kdm/kdmrc, e.g. SessionTypes=default,failsafe,kde,blackbox
1. The bin/wm/<script> scheme is deprecated. the problem is there's nothing to replace it so far. Hallski and Azarah (of Gentoo-Gnome fame) were working on a new scheme, but nothing's ready yet. But for now kdm and gmd use different schemes and wm list generation (i.e. based on what is emerged) is non-automatic. 2. I've fixed this problem recently. Please emerge rsync and remerge kdebase, and tell me if the problem goes away (i.e. empty kdmrc, no bin/wm/kde-2.2.2 script).
well, this scheme (as installed from X or gnome or wherever it was) was removed about 6 months ago. From what I understand it was still used in the KDE installation?
Yes, the kdebase ebuild installs a bin/wm/kde-2.2.2 script that just runs the correct startkde. it also installs a bin/wm/xsession script that runs ~/.xsession. x11-base/xfree currently installs an Xsession ($FILESDIR/$PV/Xsession) that supports bin/wm scripts.
From a fresh install, I have no problems with kdm. Just select "kde-2.2.2" and log in. I am not sure why this is still open.
Well, I was waiting for confirmation from Daniel Mettler (who first opened this). But since I do know I fixed this, you're probably right - I'll close this as FIXED. After all at worst it can always be reopened later.
