HOWTO - Add Non-CDE Window Managers to CDE's Dtlogin

HOWTO: Add Non-CDE Window Managers to CDE's Dtlogin

UPDATE: How To Get Rid Of The Login Splash Screen

The one and only question that I am ever asked is this: "When I log in, I see 'Starting the openwindows desktop', how can I make that go away?" Unfortunately, my answer has always been, 'I don't know, nothing I have tried has worked.' That is, until now. Thanks to David Zanella I now have something useful to pass along. Here's what you do:

Open /usr/dt/bin/Xresources in your favorite editor.
Look for lines that contain "dtstart_hello[0]", and comment them out.

As an example:

# # Session startup clients and args # if [ "$SESSIONTYPE" = "altDt" ]; then dtstart_session[0]="$SDT_ALT_SESSION" # dtstart_hello[0]="$SDT_ALT_HELLO" else dtstart_session[0]="$DT_BINPATH/dtsession" # dtstart_hello[0]="$DT_BINPATH/dthello &" fi

Check it out, give it a try, and let me know how it goes.

OLD: The Original HOWTO page

The original HOWTO is located here.

NEW: make-dtlogin Shell Script

Tired of trying to figure out how to add logins to CDE's Dtlogin manager?
Tired of pulling out your hair trying to figure out the HOWTO instructions?

Let my new CDE DtLogin Creator script do it for you:

make-dtlogin (The Script)

make-dtlogin-1.1-1-sol2-sparc-usr.gz (The datastream-format Solaris package -- installs in /usr/bin by default)

What you will need:

The make-dtlogin script (above)
A chosen name for your new CDE login session (Ex: FVWM-2.x, KDE-3.x, etc...)
Two 237x237 graphics files: One in XPM format, the other in XBM format
If you intend to run the SSH agent, then you will need to know the full pathname to the ssh-agent program (Ex: /usr/bin/ssh-agent)
The full pathname to the new window manager (Ex: /usr/local/bin/fvwm2, /usr/local/bin/startkde, etc...)
A unique 9-character package name will be generated for you, but you will be prompted for your own if you prefer (Ex: DtKDE2, DtFVWM, etc...)

What you get:
Answer a few simple questions and make-dtlogin will present you with a Solaris datastream package file in /var/spool/pkg/. This allows you to add the configuration files to and remove the configuration files from the system with ease using Solaris' regular package management commands. Add the files using /usr/sbin/pkgadd and then type "/etc/init.d/dtlogin reset", and when dtlogin comes back up you should see your new login appear under "Options" --> "Session" menu.

Robustness:
I have gone to great lengths to try to make sure that make-dtlogin is robust and foolproof. The make-dtlogin script will:

Check to see if the information given will result in generating a login session that will overshadow an existing login session, prompts before continuing. (For example: I used make-dtlogin to roll my own CDE login session to replace the system version so that I could have the ssh-agent program run along with the window manager. The make-dtlogin script noticed that my proposed package would replace the system's default CDE login session and prompted me before continuing.)
Check to see if the information given for the proposed package will generate any files that will conflict with or overwrite any files belonging to an existing login session.
Check the format of the proposed package name for validity.
Check the system to make sure that the proposed package name does not already exist, prompts before continuing.
Check that the proposed session name does not already exist, prompts before continuing.
Check the existence, validity, and dimensions of the given XPM and XBM logo files.
Check the existence and validity of the given path to the window manager.

Now how cool is that?

An Example:
Here is an example session. Characters in white-bold are what I typed. ([enter] means that I pressed the return key.)

# ls KDE.gif KDE.xbm KDE.xcf KDE.xpm # make-dtlogin CDE DtLogin Creator This script will ask you a few questions about what kind of window manager you would like to add to the CDE login screen, and then it will generate a Solaris package datastream file for you that contains the new setup. Before we begin, you will need the following: 1) A name for your new CDE login session. (Ex: FVWM) 2) The complete path to your window manager program. (Ex: /usr/local/bin/fvwm2) 3) Two 237x237 graphics files, one in XPM format, the other in XBM format. 4) If you intend to run the SSH agent along with your window manager, then you will need to know the full pathname to the ssh-agent program. (Ex: /usr/bin/ssh-agent) You should use your favorite graphics editor (such as the Gimp) to create a pair of files to use as the logo for your new login. (Your logos can look like whatever you want, but you can also take a look at the files in /usr/dt/appconfig/icons/C/ for examples.) At any prompt, you may enter '?' for help, or 'q' to quit. Are you ready to continue? (y/n/q/?) [y]: ? If you can meet the above requirements then answer yes. That is, if you have chosen a name for your login session, you know the complete path to your window manager (and optionally to your ssh-agent), and you have two, 237x237 graphics files, one in XPM format and the other in XBM format, then answer yes. Otherwise answer no to exit the script and re-run it later when you are ready. Are you ready to continue? (y/n/q/?) [y]: [enter] What name would you like to use for this login? KDE-3.x Generating filenames... - /etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.pm - /etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.bm - /etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d/Xresources.KDE-3.x - /etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase1 - /etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase2 - /etc/dt/config/Xinitrc.KDE-3.x Generating package name... - Package Name: DtKDE3x If you agree with the given package name, simply press return, or enter your own package name below. Package name for KDE-3.x CDE login? [DtKDE3x]: [enter] Checking filenames... Checking package name... What is the full path to the XPM graphic logo file? ./KDE.gif ./KDE.gif does not appear to be a valid XPM graphics file, continue? (y/n/q/?) [n]: [enter] Okay, let's try again then. What is the full path to the XPM graphic logo file? ./KDE.xpm What is the full path to the XBM graphic logo file? ./KDE.xbm What is the full path to the window manager program? /usr/local/bin/startkde Would you like to run the SSH agent inline with this window manager? (y/n/q/?) [y]: [enter] What is the full path to the ssh-agent program? /usr/bin/ssh-agent Okay, here's what I have for your new CDE login: Session name: KDE-3.x XPM graphic logo: ./KDE.xpm XBM graphic logo: ./KDE.xbm Window manager: /usr/local/bin/startkde Use SSH's ssh-agent along with the window manager: y ssh-agent: /usr/bin/ssh-agent Is the above information correct? (y/n/?) [y]: [enter] Creating package... - Creating package in /tmp - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/appconfig - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/appconfig/icons - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/config - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/config/C - Making /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d - Copying ./KDE.xpm to /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.pm - Copying ./KDE.xbm to /tmp/DtKDE3x/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.bm - Creating /tmp/DtKDE3x//etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d/Xresources.KDE-3.x - Creating /tmp/DtKDE3x//etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase1 - Creating /tmp/DtKDE3x//etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase2 - Creating /tmp/DtKDE3x//etc/dt/config/Xinitrc.KDE-3.x - Creating /tmp/DtKDE3x/checkinstall - Creating pkginfo file - Creating prototype file - Creating package spool directory ## Building pkgmap from package prototype file. ## Processing pkginfo file. ## Attempting to volumize 14 entries in pkgmap. part 1 -- 240 blocks, 19 entries ## Packaging one part. /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/pkgmap /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/pkginfo /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/install/checkinstall /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.bm /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.pm /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d/Xresources.KDE-3.x /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/config/Xinitrc.KDE-3.x /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase1 /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x/reloc/etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase2 ## Validating control scripts. ## Packaging complete. - Transfering spool directory to datastream file Transferring <DtKDE3x> package instance - Checking datastream file: /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x-Solaris-root Checking uninstalled stream format package <DtKDE3x> from </var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x-Solaris-root> ## Checking control scripts. ## Checking package objects. ## Checking is complete. - Removing /tmp/DtKDE3x - Removing /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x Done. There is now a file on this host named: /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x-Solaris-root This file is a datastream-format Solaris package that contains your new CDE login session setup. To install this file, type: pkgadd -d /var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x-Solaris-root DtKDE3x And then notify dtlogin of the changes by selecting "Options" from the dtlogin screen and then "Reset Login Screen" from the Options pull-down menu. After this, you should be able to click on "Options" from the dtlogin screen, and then "Session" from the Options pull-down menu to see your new CDE login (which will be listed as "KDE-3.x"). # cd /var/spool/pkg/ # ls -al total 244 drwxrwxrwt 2 root bin 512 Mar 7 10:58 . drwxr-xr-x 10 root bin 512 Feb 18 2002 .. -rw-r--r-- 1 root other 112640 Mar 7 10:58 DtKDE3x-Solaris-root # pkgchk -l -d `pwd`/DtKDE3x-* DtKDE3x Checking uninstalled stream format package <DtKDE3x> from </var/spool/pkg/DtKDE3x-Solaris-root> ## Checking control scripts. ## Checking package objects. Pathname: checkinstall Type: installation file Expected file size (bytes): 1593 Expected sum(1) of contents: 63377 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Pathname: etc Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: sys Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: root Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/appconfig Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: root Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/appconfig/icons Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.bm Type: regular file Expected mode: 0644 Expected owner: root Expected group: other Expected file size (bytes): 44513 Expected sum(1) of contents: 8650 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/appconfig/icons/C/KDE-3.x-logo.pm Type: regular file Expected mode: 0644 Expected owner: root Expected group: other Expected file size (bytes): 58144 Expected sum(1) of contents: 57476 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: bin Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/C Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: bin Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d Type: directory Expected mode: 0755 Expected owner: root Expected group: bin Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/C/Xresources.d/Xresources.KDE-3.x Type: regular file Expected mode: 0444 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Expected file size (bytes): 194 Expected sum(1) of contents: 16849 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/Xinitrc.KDE-3.x Type: regular file Expected mode: 0444 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Expected file size (bytes): 391 Expected sum(1) of contents: 32144 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase1 Type: regular file Expected mode: 0555 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Expected file size (bytes): 971 Expected sum(1) of contents: 9644 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: etc/dt/config/Xsession.KDE-3.x-phase2 Type: regular file Expected mode: 0555 Expected owner: bin Expected group: bin Expected file size (bytes): 862 Expected sum(1) of contents: 508 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 Current status: installed Pathname: pkginfo Type: installation file Expected file size (bytes): 157 Expected sum(1) of contents: 11987 Expected last modification: Mar 07 10:58:43 2003 ## Checking is complete.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility what so ever for any damages that result from the use or misuse of the make-dtlogin script.