Display manager
Not to be confused with window manager.
A display manager(DM), sometimes known as login manager, [[Article description::presents the user with a graphical login screen to start a GUI session, either X or Wayland.]]
Available software
Alphabetical list of some display managers in the official Gentoo tree:
| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CDM (The Console Display Manager) | x11-misc/cdm | The Console Display Manager |
| GDM (GNOME Display Manager) | gnome-base/gdm | GNOME Display Manager |
| GTKGreet (GTK Greeter) | gui-apps/gtkgreet | GTK based Greeter for greetd |
| LightDM (A Lightweight Display Manager) | x11-misc/lightdm | A lightweight display manager |
| LXDM (LXDE Display Manager) | lxde-base/lxdm | LXDE Display Manager |
| Qingy (Qingy Is Not GettY) | sys-apps/qingy | A DirectFB getty replacement |
| SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager) | x11-misc/sddm | Simple Desktop Display Manager |
| SLiM (Simple Login Manager) | x11-misc/slim | Simple Login Manager |
| TUIGreet (TUI Greeter) | gui-apps/tuigreet | Terminal based UI Greeter for greetd |
| WDM (WINGs Display Manager) | x11-misc/wdm | WINGs Display Manager |
| XDM (X Display Manager) | x11-apps/xdm | X.Org's X Display Manager |
Before setting up and using a display manager, be sure that the chosen GUI environment, startx or Wayland, works without problems. If something does not work refer to the troubleshooting guides, such as Xorg/Guide.
Configuration
In all major Linux operating systems, display managers are started automatically on boot. In order for this to happen automatically a script must be added to the init system's appropriate runlevel. Examples for OpenRC and systemd are provided below.
OpenRC
Under most circumstances, the OpenRC init system (Gentoo's default init system) will be used to start the display manager.
Historically, the xdm init script handled the starting of the display manager, which has now been deprecated in favor of the display-manager init script from gui-libs/display-manager-init.
The following examples will set SDDM as the display manager. Adjust as necessary for other display managers.
With display-manager
If gui-libs/display-manager-init is not present, emerge it with:
root #emerge --ask gui-libs/display-manager-initThe configuration file should be modified to use SDDM:
/etc/conf.d/display-managerSet SDDM as the display manager<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">CHECKVT=7 DISPLAYMANAGER="sddm"</syntaxhighlight>
To start the chosen display manager on boot, add the display-manager to the system's default runlevel:
root #rc-update add display-manager defaultTo start the display-manager immediately, run:
root #rc-service display-manager startWith the deprecated xdm init script
/etc/conf.d/xdmSet SDDM as the display manager<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">CHECKVT=7 DISPLAYMANAGER="sddm"</syntaxhighlight>
To start the chosen display manager on boot, add the xdm to the system's default runlevel:
root #rc-update add xdm defaultTo start SDDM immediately, run:
root #rc-service xdm startsystemd
If using systemd as the init system, first locate the chosen <display-manager>.service file.
To start SDDM on boot, enable the service:
root #systemctl enable sddm.serviceTo start SDDM immediately, run:
root #systemctl start sddm.serviceSee also
- Xorg/Guide — explains what Xorg is, how to install it, and the various configuration options.
- X without Display Manager — describes how to start an X11 session without a display manager
- Window manager — manages the creation, manipulation, and destruction of on-screen windows.
- Desktop environment — provides a list of desktop environments available in Gentoo.
- Login — is a primer which explains various aspects of a login shell.