Beyond Linux® From Scratch (systemd edition) - Version 7.10

Chapter 33.  GNOME Libraries and Desktop

GDM-3.20.1

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-7.10 platform.

Package Information

GDM Dependencies

Required

AccountsService-0.6.42, GTK+-3.20.9, ISO Codes-3.69, itstool-2.0.2, libcanberra-0.30, and Linux-PAM-1.3.0

Optional

Check-0.10.0

Runtime Dependencies

gnome-session-3.20.2, gnome-shell-3.20.4, and Systemd-231

User Notes: http://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

Install GDM by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr         \
            --sysconfdir=/etc     \
            --localstatedir=/var  \
            --without-plymouth    \
            --disable-static      \
            --enable-gdm-xsession &&
make

If you have installed Check-0.10.0 and you wish to run the testsuite, issue: make check.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Install the systemd unit by running the following command as the root user: 

install -v -m644 data/gdm.service /lib/systemd/system/gdm.service

Command Explanations

--disable-static: This switch prevents installation of static versions of the libraries.

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

--without-plymouth: GDM now explicitly requires plymouth to be installed. Use this switch to disable this dependency.

--with-default-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.

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 Units

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
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 the GNOME based login prompt.

gdm-screenshot

is a GDM screenshot tool.

Last updated on 2016-08-29 23:02:26 -0700