GDM glitch

I've got a machine running ok with Lenny and a gnome desktop that only
starts after login, but am running into some logon and restarting
issues.

I need to have this machine automatically log on, because it's an
unattended data collection machine (think kiosk), with a gnome desktop.

I also need to be able to force a reboot remotely, preferably through
VNC, for maintenance purposes (this will not be done routinely).


Those two requirements seem to be mutually exclusive, though it may be
due to me not having all the settings correct. What I'm seeing is that
when I set up an automatic log on through the initrd and .bash_profile
settings, which I found through a google search, the auto logon works
fine. However, I can't find any way of forcing a reboot remotely; the
only thing on my gnome menus is a log off, which kicks me out of vnc,
and takes me back to the character-mode console, leaving me with no
remote control.

And when I install GDM, I get the reboot option on the gnome menu, but
auto logon doesn't seem to work. It appears to try to log on, and my
screen starts to build (I get the background and a mouse cursor), but I
never get the full screen.

Bug in GDM? I set the theme to plain on logon; could that do it? Or is
there a way of forcing a reboot remotely without having gdm installed
(this would be my preferred option, if it exists).

Thanks! You people have been a great help so far, and I hope you can
help me over this hurdle as well.

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On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:31:02 -0500, David Kerber wrote:

<snip>>
> I also need to be able to force a reboot remotely, preferably through
> VNC, for maintenance purposes (this will not be done routinely).
>
I've done this with my machine at work when working at home so it is
possible.
>
> Those two requirements seem to be mutually exclusive, though it may be
> due to me not having all the settings correct. What I'm seeing is that
> when I set up an automatic log on through the initrd and .bash_profile
> settings, which I found through a google search, the auto logon works
> fine. However, I can't find any way of forcing a reboot remotely; the
> only thing on my gnome menus is a log off, which kicks me out of vnc,
> and takes me back to the character-mode console, leaving me with no
> remote control.
I set up automatic login via gdm.conf with:
[daemon]
AutomaticLoginEnable=true
AutomaticLogin=username

>
> And when I install GDM, I get the reboot option on the gnome menu, but
> auto logon doesn't seem to work. It appears to try to log on, and my
> screen starts to build (I get the background and a mouse cursor), but I
> never get the full screen.
>
Two ways you can do this (at least) from gdm:
open a shell and:
sudo reboot
(or su and then reboot)

click on the System menu and select shutdown, it gives a restart option

another way would be to ssh into the machine directly and reboot.


--
Keith Blow