Kdm Ltsp

KDM

KDM is a superior login manager for some LTSP set ups as it supports for different settings for each client, make automatic guest logins possible.

Client setup with KDM

The file /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc controls what setting KDM uses. The KDM handbook is the best reference for this and there is a pdf version too. A typical bunch of lines added to the file would be:

[X-ws001:0-Core]
AllowShutdown=None
NoPassEnable=true
NoPassUsers=guest001
AutoLoginEnable=true
AutoLoginDelay=20
AutoLoginUser=guest001
AutoLoginAgain=true

though many of these option may go in to the ?X-ws*:0-core and ?X-ws*:0-greeter sections. What this achieves is to set the workstation with hostname "ws001" to automatically log in to user "guest001". Login can be without a password for this user, the user is automatically typed on the password line, and the user will log in anyway after 20 seconds. If the session is then terminated the same user will be logged in again after 20 seconds. This is perfect for public suite that has additional access for users with their own home directories.

Xstartup for user profiles

The file /etc/kde3/kdm/Xstartup contains this adjustment to enable the deleting of all files and copying of profiles upon startup.

#START ben's part
#
# this line kills of the processes for a given user to make sure
slay $USER
# this copies the files across for the user
GUESTUSER=`echo $USER | grep ^ws`
if [ -n "$GUESTUSER" ]; then
        rsync -r --delete /etc/skel/ $HOME/
        chown -R $GUESTUSER:$GUESTUSER $HOME
fi

GUESTUSER=`echo $USER | grep ^12vws`
if [ -n "$GUESTUSER" ]; then
        rsync -r --delete /etc/skel/ $HOME/
        chown -R $GUESTUSER:$GUESTUSER $HOME
fi
#END ben's part

Other files to alter on KDM

This should be taken care of by ltspadmin when configuring for KDM (use the latest version). In case KDM isn't the latest, a number of files will need to be changed manually. /etc/kde3/kdm/Xaccess needs to have * line to let anyone log in. /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc needs to have xdmcp set to true. You may also comment out all the active lines in /etc/kde3/kdm/Xservers to stop the server producing its own graphical login. You would need a section like this for each client.

Remember that kdmrc has a hierarchical nature, and that the most specific setting sets the parameter. There is nothing more specific that giving a particular workstation and display name, so a section like [X-ws001:0-Core] will always set the parameters for that workstation.

I have noticed that setting some higher up the hierarchy, for example setting AutoLoginEnable in [X-*:0-Core] does not set things for all the greeters if the parameter has an expected other parameter, this one for example needs to paired with AutoLoginUser. This needs some attention paid to it when you edit your own configuration files.