[ILUG] X Reselutions for different logins

[Kenn Humborg]

> > However I have X running at 1600x1200 and she found the text in various
> > dialogs too small. So what I'd like to know is, can she have X switch to
> > a lower resolution when she logs in but keep my settings etc for when I
> > login. I'm using XF86 3.3.5 and GDM2 on Redhat 6.1
> 
> When re-configuring X pick as many resolutions & colour depth as you may
> need, once setup is finished CTRL + ALT + plus/Minus (on the keypad)
> will cycle through the various settings. (or at least it used to)

Won't work.  First off, you can't change the colour
depth on the fly.

Secondly, changing the resolution (which you _can_ do)
doesn't change the desktop size.  So changing down to 
(say) 1024x768 will result in the scrolly-desktop that moves
when you move the mouse to the screen edge.  Inexperienced
users find this _very_ confusing...

A few possible solutions:

1. Don't use GDM/KDM/XDM.  Instead put startx in her
   .bash_profile.  By using the double-dash option to 
   startx you can pass arguments directly to the X server
   (such as start -- -bpp 16).  Then see man X for the argument
   to specify the desktop size and resolution.   (You _may_ have
   to modify your XF86Config to add entries for the alternative
   configurations.)

2. Run two X servers.  Set up xdm to start 2 servers, running at
   different resolutions.  You'll be able to switch between them 
   with Ctrl-Alt-F7 and Ctrl-Alt-F8.  Advantage of this method is
   that you don't have to log out when she wants to use the 
   machine.  Uses quite a bit of RAM, though.

Hmm, sounds like a multiple-X-server tutorial might be in order.
I found a few gotchas when I did it, so it's not quite as straightforward
as you might think...

Later,
Kenn