Virtual consoles (was desktops) on F23 server edition

[CLOSE Dave]

Rick Stevens wrote:

> tty2-6 will not be started unless you try to use them (e.g. the getty
> on tty2 will only start if you use ALT-F2 from a console screen or
> CTRL-ALT-F2 from the desktop). Once they're started, however, they
> continue to run.

I fully understand this. I now believe the problem is only indirectly 
related to virtual consoles. If I start the machine in multi-user mode 
(runlevel 3), the vconsoles work as expected. Only when running under X 
(via startx or graphical mode) do they fail.

So my vconsoles are properly configured and work correctly outside of X. 
While X is running, if I press CTRL-ALT-F2, for example, the F2 vconsole 
does not start and the X display remains. However, X is stuck; keyboard 
or mouse input does not work. Remote access via SSH continues to work 
but the console is effectively dead. If I logout of X (without trying to 
start any vconsole), the logout works but no login prompt appears. 
Again, the console is effectively dead.

I've also seen some possibly related issues. I generally configure X so 
that SHIFT-CTRL-TAB goes to the previous desktop. On F23, that 
combination is ignored. CTRL-TAB to go to the next desktop works. I also 
configure X so that a left mouse click outside any window should bring 
up an application launcher. Again, that input is ignored. Right and 
middle click actions work as expected. These problems occur even on 
systems where the vconsoles and logout work correctly. Those systems 
were upgraded to F23 rather than installed from scratch.

If it matters, all these systems are using KDE, not Gnome.
-- 
Dave Close