Starting XFce4 without kdm or gdm

[Paul M. Bucalo]

On Sat, 01 Nov 2003 21:21:20 -0500, Brian Masinick graced me with:
> Paul M. Bucalo wrote:
> 
> 
>> Up until this point I have either used kdm or gdm to login to
>> XFce-4, depending on whether I'm using Mandrake or Red Hat. Is
>> there any other Desktop Manager I could use that's lighter, but
>> would still allow for a user/password login?
>> 
>> Appreciate any advise and experiences. I really want to trim the
>> memory usage down to the bare minimum in getting XFce-4 up and
>> running.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> 
>> Paul
>> 
>> 
> Paul, I don't know what you consider to be high overhead, but on my
> Libranet Debian system, I use gdm with either XFCE 3 or 4 probably
> 90% of the time (or more) and I don't consider the overhead too
> great. 

<snipped>

> Incidentally, Libranet is a great way to get into a Debian system.  
> If you find Debian to be too intimidating to install, try Libranet.
> Version 2.7 is free, the current 2.8.1 version can either be
> downloaded or purchased on CD from the Libranet Web site. 

What does Libranet do, make the previous version free?

> Two
> other great ways to get into Debian software are to try Live CD
> implementations.

I think I have 8.1 Live Eval, but I never loaded it because I saw 
quite a few posts elsewhere advising that it's too buggy. I thought I 
downloaded the 8.2 Live Eval, but don't see it laying around in CD 
format. I'll have to look again.

> Since you're tight on resources, one of them, the
> highly regarded Knoppix, might not be the best choice for you, 

I really, really like KNOPPIX, but the last version I used was 3.2 and 
it didn't have any option (that I could see) to install completely 
onto a system. I don't want to just run it off the CD. Has anyone 
successfully installed KNOPPIX onto a hard drive as a self-booting 
distro without having to do a lot of manual implementation? What I 
think is awesomely impressive is KNOPPIX's wizards. The developer does 
an excellent job in making a read-only ROM setup a system with minimal 
hands-on. Truly impressive. And when I have had to manually add c-l 
options, they worked well.

> but
> I've had great results with a similar Live CD, the Mepis
> distribution.  Mepis can run directly from CD or you can load it on
> CD, then run a procedure to write the software directly to disk, a
> really easy way to install it.

Never heard of Mepis. I'll do some research on it.

> LindowsOS is really fast to install, too, if you want a more
> consumer oriented system, 

I have version 4.0, but I never installed it. I think that might be 
too close to what I am trying to run from. :0)

> and Xandros is really easy if you're more
> interested in a stable system that has good interoperability with
> Windows software.

Last I knew, it wasn't free. I have a *real* problem paying for 
something before I figure out whether it works or suits my needs. 
Certainly one reason I am trying to migrate to Linux. ;0)

> Libranet, Knoppix, Mepis, LindowsOS, and Xandros
> are all based on the extremely solid Debian GNU/Linux packaging
> method.  Personally, I base the bulk of my work on a system I have
> customized myself from an older Libranet release.

Really good to know. Thanks...

> It works great with XFCE, I've used it for over a year with XFCE 3
> and now I also use it with XFCE 4.

And that's really the whole point in fueling this thread further. I 
want to be able to use XFce! :0)

To everyone else that has written to me personally with suggestions, 
as well as here, thanks! I have been rebuilding systems within my 
operation and I won't have access to that old email for days yet to 
come. I will consider all the references made and reply as soon as I 
have access to those emails again.

Paul