Beyond Linux® From Scratch (systemd Edition) - Version 11.0

Chapter 33. GNOME Libraries and Desktop

GDM-40.1

Introduction to GDM

GDM is a system service that is responsible for providing graphical logins and managing local and remote displays.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-11.0 platform.

Package Information

GDM Dependencies

Required

AccountsService-0.6.55, GTK+-3.24.30, ISO Codes-4.7.0, itstool-2.0.6, libcanberra-0.30, libdaemon-0.14, and Linux-PAM-1.5.1

Optional

keyutils-1.6.1

Runtime Dependencies

gnome-session-40.1.1, gnome-shell-40.4, and Systemd-249

User Notes: https://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/gdm

Installation of GDM

It is recommended to have a dedicated user and group to take control of the gdm daemon after it is started. Issue the following commands as the root user: 

groupadd -g 21 gdm &&
useradd -c "GDM Daemon Owner" -d /var/lib/gdm -u 21 \
        -g gdm -s /bin/false gdm &&
passwd -ql gdm

Install GDM by running the following commands: 

mkdir build &&
cd    build &&

meson --prefix=/usr               \
      --buildtype=release         \
      -Dgdm-xsession=true ..      &&
ninja

This package does not come with a usable test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

ninja install

Command Explanations

--buildtype=release: Specify a buildtype suitable for stable releases of the package, as the default may produce unoptimized binaries.

-Dinitial-vt=7: Use this switch to make GDM start on VT7 instead of the first free VT.

-Ddefault-pam-config=lfs: Use this switch if you did not create the /etc/lfs-release file or distribution auto detection will fail and you will be unable to use GDM.

-Dgdm-xsession=true: This enables the installation of the GDM Xsession file.

Configuring GDM

Config Files

/etc/gdm/custom.conf

Configuration Information

The GDM daemon is configured using the /etc/gdm/custom.conf file. Default values are stored in GSettings in the gdm.schemas file. It is recommended that end-users modify the /etc/gdm/custom.conf file because the schemas file may be overwritten when the user updates their system to have a newer version of GDM.

Systemd Unit

To start the gdm daemon at boot, enable the previously installed systemd unit by running the following command as the root user: 

systemctl enable gdm

Contents

Installed Programs: gdm, gdmflexiserver, and gdm-screenshot
Installed Libraries: libgdm.so and pam_gdm.so (PAM Module)
Installed Directories: /etc/gdm, /usr/include/gdm, /usr/share/gdm, /usr/share/help/*/gdm, /var/cache/gdm, /var/lib/gdm, /var/log/gdm, and /var/run/gdm

Short Descriptions

gdm

is a login prompt for GNOME

gdm-screenshot

is a screenshot tool for GDM

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