Debian potato question - how the %#$@% do i shut down????

[stick]

ok, it boots the the graphical login (default one that comes with potato)

all it has is login or user, and password.

i log into icewm... use it and log out... and i am back to this login where my only choice is to log back into icewm... wtf??????

i tried:
Ctl-alt-del = nothing!
clt-atl-tab = nothing!
ctl-alt-backspace = blinks then comes right back...

...so what i end up doing is:
ctl-alt-f3
then, type in root
then type my password
then type shutdown -h now

...seems like a lot of work, and is making me very angry!!!

do not want to install ximian agian just to have the option to shut down...


PLEASE HELP!!!!????? :(

[Craig McPherson]

What's wrong with logging into a text console to shut down? You have 6 text consoles by default, use them.

Well anyway, there are several alternatives:

1. Switch to a text console and press control-alt-delete. Power down the system immediately after it reboots.

2. Use "halt" or "reboot" from an Xterm.

3. If you're using Login.App as your display manager, you can "log in" with the username "halt" or "reboot" and root's password, and the system will halt or reboot as appropriate.

4. Edit /etc/inittab to define a system halt event -- just like control-alt-delete reboots, you can have alt-uparrow or something like that shut down.

5. Disable the display manager and start X only when you actually want to use it.

[ 14 June 2001: Message edited by: Craig McPherson ]

[stick]

ok, (btw, thanks craig)

oh yea... well found temp solution... just went into icewm folder and then:

emacs toolbar

then added this line:

prog shutdown shutdown shutdown -h now

and it does work... ????? not EXACTLY what i wanted but it is cool for now...

[Radar]

Open Eterm (or Xterm) from within X. su to root, type: shutdown -h now <ret> for full halt.

Or from within X, type ctrl-alt-F1, which gets you to console. Then type: shutdown -h now <ret>

[lsibn]

If you install gdm or kdm (instead of xdm) you'll get menus that let you shutdown or reboot.

I'm not confident enough with debian to actually say how to do that, but I'd add the line
deb http://red-carpet.ximian.com/debian stable main

to /etc/apt/sources.list and running apt-get update.

Then, you should be able to find gdm in the dselect package listing - probably under New Optional Packages in section X11.

Be careful, because I haven't actually tried any of this- I got gdm as part of task-ximian-gnome.

Edit: Oh, and you may well find that xdm didn't need lots of configuring, but gdm probably will.

[ 14 June 2001: Message edited by: lsibn ]

[stick]

wouldn't i have to have gnome or kde?

[Craig McPherson]

I like to use Login.App instead of KDM, GDM, or XDM. As I mentioned, in Login.App, you can just type "halt" or "reboot" in the username box and enter the root password, and the system will.

I also think Login.App is much prettier than KDM or GDM, and it's CERTAINLY a lot better than that ugly-butt XDM.

[stick]

if i apt-get it, will debian set it up to come up when i reboot? will it at least replace xdm?

[Craig McPherson]

Yes, the preinst script edit your /etc/inittab so that Login.App starts instead of XDM.

[stick]

sweet!!! i will install asap!

[stiles]

Originally posted by Craig McPherson:
<STRONG>Yes, the preinst script edit your /etc/inittab so that Login.App starts instead of XDM.</STRONG>

Wouldn't that be a symlink in /etc/rc2.d/S##whatever pointing to /etc/init.d/&lt;script-to-run&gt;

[Craig McPherson]

No... init scripts are only for NON INTERACTIVE programs.

Interactive programs like Display Managers and login screens are controlled by /etc/inittab.

There are some Display Managers that are run by init scripts, but it's wrong behavior. Init scripts are supposed to be used only for non-interactive programs.

[stiles]

Interesting, I never heard of that, but that's nothing new. What's the reasoning behind this (link or man page is fine by me)? Only things I've seen started directly in /etc/inittab is gettys and saf stuff (and pseudo runlevels a, b, and c, I'm not even sure if linux's svinit has pseudo states, no loss they are kind stupid anyways)

[Craig McPherson]

Originally posted by stiles:
<STRONG>IOnly things I've seen started directly in /etc/inittab is gettys</STRONG>

Yes... and a Display Manager is just really, at its core, a souped-up graphical version of Getty.

[stick]

it does work... awesome... that is exactly what i was looking for... thanks craig!! ;)

[Craig McPherson]

Alright, good. Looks a lot better than XDM, doesn't it?

[stick]

yep. and.... i like how it says: GNU/Linux


i did halt,,, worked without a hitch... I am so glad because i did not want to install gdm... bla!!!