Classnotes | UNIX02 | RecentChanges | Preferences Often, you will have XFree86 run at boot and use a login manager to gain access to your machine. This is done by having the following entry in your /etc/inittab file (see /The init Process):
# Run xdm in runlevel 5
# xdm is now a separate service
x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/prefdm -nodaemon
However, if you have not set XFree86 to run automatically, the common way to start it once you have logged in is with the following command:
$ startx
To kill your X session imediately without waiting to log out (if X has crashed or you've lost mouse control) you can press "Ctrl-Alt-Backspace".
If XFree86 runs at boot, then "Ctrl-Alt-Backspace" will kill X, which will then restart and leave you at the login manager.
