Virtual desktops on F23 server edition

[CLOSE Dave]

I don't seem to have any virtual desktops available after a fresh 
installation of F23 server edition. What am I missing?

[Joe Zeff]

On 02/24/2016 02:12 PM, CLOSE Dave wrote:
> I don't seem to have any virtual desktops available after a fresh
> installation of F23 server edition. What am I missing?

Virtual desktops are normally a part of a GUI, which isn't part of the 
default installation for the server edition.  Do you mean that you don't 
have the alternate text consoles that should be available?

[CLOSE Dave]

On 02/24/16 02:45 PM, Joe Zeff wrote:
> Virtual desktops are normally a part of a GUI, which isn't part of the
> default installation for the server edition.  Do you mean that you don't
> have the alternate text consoles that should be available?

Yes. Sorry for the terminology confusion.

[stan]

On Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:12:58 -0800
CLOSE Dave  wrote:
> I don't seem to have any virtual desktops available after a fresh 
> installation of F23 server edition. What am I missing?

The virtual consoles are created by systemd at startup.

Do you have the following files on your system?
/usr/lib/systemd/system-generators/systemd-getty-generator
/usr/lib/systemd/system/console-getty.service
/usr/lib/systemd/system/container-getty@.service
/usr/lib/systemd/system/getty.target
/usr/lib/systemd/system/getty@.service
/usr/lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/getty.target
/usr/share/man/man8/systemd-getty-generator.8.gz
/etc/systemd/logind.conf

The last file contains the defaults that systemd uses when generating
gettys.

$ cat /etc/systemd/logind.conf
#  This file is part of systemd.
#
#  systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
#  under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
published by #  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the
License, or #  (at your option) any later version.
#
# See logind.conf(5) for details

[Login]
#NAutoVTs=6
#ReserveVT=6
#KillUserProcesses=no
#KillOnlyUsers=
#KillExcludeUsers=root
#InhibitDelayMaxSec=5
#HandlePowerKey=poweroff
#HandleSuspendKey=suspend
#HandleHibernateKey=hibernate
#HandleLidSwitch=suspend
#HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
#PowerKeyIgnoreInhibited=no
#SuspendKeyIgnoreInhibited=no
#HibernateKeyIgnoreInhibited=no
#LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes
#IdleAction=ignore
#IdleActionSec=30min
#RuntimeDirectorySize=10%
#RemoveIPC=yes

You could just do a 
dnf reinstall systemd
on your system.  Something must have gone really wrong for virtual
consoles to be missing.

[CLOSE Dave]

stan wrote:
> > I don't seem to have any virtual desktops available after a fresh
> > installation of F23 server edition. What am I missing?
> Do you have the following files on your system?
> /usr/lib/systemd/system-generators/systemd-getty-generator
> /usr/lib/systemd/system/console-getty.service
> /usr/lib/systemd/system/container-getty@.service
> /usr/lib/systemd/system/getty.target
> /usr/lib/systemd/system/getty@.service
> /usr/lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/getty.target
> /usr/share/man/man8/systemd-getty-generator.8.gz
> /etc/systemd/logind.conf

I have all those files, which are part of the systemd package.
> The last file contains the defaults that systemd uses when generating
> gettys.

My file is identical to the default except,

NAutoVTs=6	# same as default
  ReserveVT=6	# same as default
  LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes
> You could just do a
> dnf reinstall systemd
> on your system.  Something must have gone really wrong for virtual
> consoles to be missing.

Trying that soon.

[stan]

On Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:58:43 -0800
CLOSE Dave  wrote:
> I have all those files, which are part of the systemd package.

Run  systemctl -a -t service
and search the output for tty.  It's less, so /tty will do it.  There
should be a service running for each getty.

If there isn't, run  journalctl -r
and search the output for tty.  The -r puts things in reverse order, so
you will find the last mention of tty by the system.  It is also less,
so /tty will work.  If something went wrong, this should tell you what.
> stan wrote:
> > The last file contains the defaults that systemd uses when
> > generating gettys.
>
> My file is identical to the default except,
>
> NAutoVTs=6	# same as default
>   ReserveVT=6	# same as default
>   LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes

This doesn't seem to be a problem.  Are you trying to reach the
vconsoles from X, and not using Ctl-Alt-F[2-6]?  i.e.  is it plugged
in?  :-)

[CLOSE Dave]

stan wrote:
> Run  systemctl -a -t service
> and search the output for tty.  It's less, so /tty will do it.  There
> should be a service running for each getty.

# systemctl -a -t service | grep tty
   [e-mail] 
                      loaded    inactive dead    Getty on tty1
> If there isn't, run  journalctl -r
> and search the output for tty.  The -r puts things in reverse order, so
> you will find the last mention of tty by the system.  It is also less,
> so /tty will work.  If something went wrong, this should tell you what.

All lines since the last boot... (journalctl -r --no-pager | grep tty)

Feb 17 11:08:43 pses23top polkitd[740]: Registered Authentication Agent 
for unix-process:4254:7165877 (system bus name :1.5981 
[/usr/bin/pkttyagent --notify-fd 5 --fallback], object path 
/org/freedesktop/PolicyKit1/AuthenticationAgent, locale en_US.UTF-8)
Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:05: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4, 
base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:04: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3, 
base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: console [tty0] enabled

[stan]

On Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:15:02 -0800
CLOSE Dave  wrote:
> # systemctl -a -t service | grep tty
>    [e-mail] 
>                       loaded    inactive dead    Getty on tty1

This is from my system:
[e-mail]
loaded    active   running Getty on tty1
[e-mail]
loaded    active   running Getty on tty2
[e-mail]
loaded    active   running Getty on tty3
[e-mail]
loaded    active   running Getty on tty4
[e-mail]
loaded    active   running Getty on tty5 
[e-mail] 
loaded    active   running Getty on tty6
> All lines since the last boot... (journalctl -r --no-pager | grep tty)
>
> Feb 17 11:08:43 pses23top polkitd[740]: Registered Authentication
> Agent for unix-process:4254:7165877 (system bus name :1.5981 
> [/usr/bin/pkttyagent --notify-fd 5 --fallback], object path 
> /org/freedesktop/PolicyKit1/AuthenticationAgent, locale en_US.UTF-8)
> Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:05: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4, 
> base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
> Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:04: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3, 
> base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
> Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: console [tty0] enabled

Here is an example of what happens on my system:
Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Started Getty on tty1.
Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Starting Getty on tty1...
Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Started Getty on tty6.
Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Starting Getty on tty6...

It looks like systemd is not even being invoked to set up ttys.  That
is what inactive  dead means to me, anyway.  Try, as root,
systemctl unmask [e-mail]
systemctl enable [e-mail]
systemctl start  [e-mail]

The @ might need to be escaped.  If this doesn't do it, I'm out of
ideas.  Maybe someone else can point you in the right direction.

If this works for getty1, all the gettys should start at the next
reboot (I think).

[Rick Stevens]

On 02/25/2016 03:46 PM, stan wrote:
> On Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:15:02 -0800
> CLOSE Dave  wrote:
> > # systemctl -a -t service | grep tty
> >     [e-mail]
> >                        loaded    inactive dead    Getty on tty1
>
> This is from my system:
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty1
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty2
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty3
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty4
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty5
> [e-mail]
> loaded    active   running Getty on tty6
> > All lines since the last boot... (journalctl -r --no-pager | grep tty)
> >
> > Feb 17 11:08:43 pses23top polkitd[740]: Registered Authentication
> > Agent for unix-process:4254:7165877 (system bus name :1.5981
> > [/usr/bin/pkttyagent --notify-fd 5 --fallback], object path
> > /org/freedesktop/PolicyKit1/AuthenticationAgent, locale en_US.UTF-8)
> > Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:05: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4,
> > base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
> > Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: 00:04: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3,
> > base_baud = 115200) is a 16550A
> > Feb 16 15:14:27 pses23top kernel: console [tty0] enabled
>
> Here is an example of what happens on my system:
> Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Started Getty on tty1.
> Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Starting Getty on tty1...
> Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Started Getty on tty6.
> Feb 25 14:29:13 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Starting Getty on tty6...
>
> It looks like systemd is not even being invoked to set up ttys.  That
> is what inactive  dead means to me, anyway.  Try, as root,
> systemctl unmask [e-mail]
> systemctl enable [e-mail]
> systemctl start  [e-mail]
>
> The @ might need to be escaped.  If this doesn't do it, I'm out of
> ideas.  Maybe someone else can point you in the right direction.
>
> If this works for getty1, all the gettys should start at the next
> reboot (I think).

The [e-mail] is dead probably because the X server was
started at some point, and that takes over tty1.

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Rick Stevens, Systems Engineer, AllDigital    [e-mail] -
- AIM/Skype: therps2        ICQ: 226437340           Yahoo: origrps2 -
-                                                                    -
-            "You think that's tough?  Try herding cats!"            -
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Virtual consoles (was desktops) on F23 server edition

[Rick Stevens]

On 02/26/2016 02:47 PM, CLOSE Dave wrote:
> 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.

Wow. Uhm, since ssh works, have you used it to crawl around in the logs
to see if something weird is going on?
> 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.

Oh, Ok. I'm running Xfce myself on a machine that was upgraded
F22->F23. Granted I'm using the default key bindings:

CTRL-ALT-HOME to go back one workspace
    CTRL-ALT-END to go forward one workspace
    CTRL-ALT-<F2...F6> to get the available virtual consoles

I have noticed, however, that CTRL-ALT-1 through CTRL-ALT-5 do NOT
take me directly to the workspaces (I have five set up). I don't
typically use that feature anyway, which is why I never noticed before.

Hmmmmmmmmm........
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Rick Stevens, Systems Engineer, AllDigital    [e-mail] -
- AIM/Skype: therps2        ICQ: 226437340           Yahoo: origrps2 -
-                                                                    -
-            I'm afraid my karma just ran over your dogma            -
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Virtual consoles (was desktops) on F23 server edition

[CLOSE Dave]

Rick Stevens wrote:
> > 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.
> Wow. Uhm, since ssh works, have you used it to crawl around in the logs
> to see if something weird is going on?

I have to correct my statement above. SSH does not work after this lock 
up and an active SSH session stops just like the console. After reboot, 
I can't find anything useful in the logs.

[CLOSE Dave]

I wrote:
> My file is identical to the default except,
>
> NAutoVTs=6	# same as default
>    ReserveVT=6	# same as default
>    LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes

Hit send to quickly. That last should be "LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=no".