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Rodrigo Martins de Oliveira
Asked: 2011-12-08 16:46:38 +0800 CST

How to set up a multiseat system?

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I intent to buy a new Desktop PC, but I'm wondering if I can share one machine between 2 users. I read about the subject, however I didn't find any guide for that, only some isolated answers/comentaries. Then I tried to test it with my laptop that has only one video board, but after some tries that failed and killed my graphicall interface and at each try I had to reinstall my system, I gave up.

I know that LightDM does support multiseat, but it's only unlockable through editing lighdm.conf, there are not any graphicalleasytouseandfullofbuttons programs... and any instructions.

So the questions are:

  • Can I have a multiseat system using Ubuntu 11.10/12.04 with two video boards? And if so, HOW?

  • Can I have a multiseat using one video board? If so, HOW?

Thank you for the attention, Rodrigo Martins.

[EDIT] I've been trying to get something from these sources:

Support multi-seat

Configuration file for setup1

LightDM.conf

Virtual terminal switching with multiseat setup and lightdm

multiseat sample xorg.conf ati intel

I figured out more or less how to setup lightdm.conf for multiseat, but the problem now stands at xorg.conf, looking at the fourth and fifth links I had some idea of how to do the configuration, but I don't know how to call my second screen, that is connected to the VGA output , in the Section when it asks for the 'Identifier', 'Screen' and 'Monitor', is it just to put screen1 and monitor1? vga and vga-monitor?

Can you help me with this?

11.10

1 Answers

  1. Multi-seat support for LightDM was discussed during development and a fix has been released for Oneiric:

    Support multi-seat setup. This is (I think) when you run two sessions on a single X server (with two displays/keyboards/mice).

    The basic configuration of lightdm.conf is

    [LightDM]
displays=display0 display1

[display0]
xserver=xserver0

[display1]
xserver=xserver1

[xserver0]
layout=layout0

[xserver1]
layout=layout1

    The lead developer also gives this example in the report:

    [LightDM]
xserver=default-xserver

[default-xserver]
command=/usr/bin/X -foo
config-file=/etc/X-foo.conf
layout=layout0

    Thus for each video card you need to define an X-session (through xnest & xephir)

    In the report a specific example of a xorg.conf file should support for multiple nvidia displays.

    In terms with running multiple X sessions from one video card this is currently unsupported.

    I hope this answer gives you some ideas to work through.

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