logout hangs

[ubername]

Hi

When I select 'logout' my system gets to

rc.X ==> Going to multiuser GUI mode

and then hangs (i.e. the screen stays  saying that).

Any clues / ideas where to look for problems?

Thanks

[kc1di]

Give us a little more information please

Which version are you using with which Desktop?

[ubername]

Give us a little more information please

Which version are you using with which Desktop?

From Hardinfo:

Version
Kernel   Linux 2.6.27.12 (i686)
Compiled   #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Jan 22 00:12:35 MST 2009
C Library   GNU C Library version 2.7 (stable)
Distribution   6.0 Light Final built on March 31, 2009
Current Session
Computer Name   jpvector.linux.net
User Name   john (John)
Home Directory   /home/john
Desktop Environment   Unknown (Window Manager: )

Bit worrying that it doesn't know the Desktop environment. I think it's KDE/Icewm

[nightflier]

Could be a process hanging on shutdown or a conflict with apm/acpi, hard to tell.

If you boot to TUI, then issue command "poweroff" as root, does that work?

[ubername]

Could be a process hanging on shutdown or a conflict with apm/acpi, hard to tell.

If you boot to TUI, then issue command "poweroff" as root, does that work?

yes, it seems to, although it takes a little while and I get

CIFS VFS: Server not responding
and then another message which starts with CIFS VFS: but I didn't get to write it down in time.

[nightflier]

Guess you have a samba share mounted, and it won't release. Seen that before. Next try the poweroff command in a terminal emulator, maybe unmount the samba share first.

[GrannyGeek]

Desktop Environment   Unknown (Window Manager: )

Bit worrying that it doesn't know the Desktop environment. I think it's KDE/Icewm

Unless you *added* KDE, your choices are IceWM or JWM. They are both window managers, not Desktop Environments. VectorLinux 6 Standard comes with XFce and LXDE, both of which are Desktop Environments, though considered "lightweight" as Desktop Environments go. VectorLinux SOHO comes with KDE, a rather resource-hungry and very complete Desktop Environment.

Fundamentally, a window manager controls the appearance of your application windows and manages the windows. A desktop environment provides integrated utilities and applications. For example, XFce has its own file manager (Thunar), as does KDE (Konqueror, others). IceWM does not have its own file manager. You can use any file manager for which you have the dependencies, as you can with XFce and KDE.

Hardinto in my installation of VL 6 Light also says Unknown for Desktop Environment, so don't worry about that.
--GrannyGeek

[rbistolfi]

Many WMs and DEs export a DESKTOP_SESSION environment variable.
Maybe if you run this in a terminal you can find out wich one are you running:

Code:

echo $DESKTOP_SESSION

For example in my box I get this:

Code:

rbistolfi@vector1 [ ~ ] %echo $DESKTOP_SESSION
awesome

HTH

[ubername]

Thanks all.

Using $DESKTOP_SESSION shows I am using icewm.

'poweroff' from a terminal works - although I hope I haven't mislead anyone -  'shutdown' and 'reboot' work fine anyway. It is only the 'logout' option which causes the hang. And even when it is hanging the power off button works, immediately initiating the shutdown process.

Any more help gratefully received. I noted the post which suggested a acpi/apm hang and tried to use htop to kill any process with these in the name (this lappy is only for playing - to see if I can have a workable system on such a low spec). This seems to stop the power off button from working!

[nightflier]

Yes, killing apm/acpi would stop the daemon that monitors the power button.

You may try switching login manager. If you are using VL6 Light, it comes with both KDM and GDM, defaulting to KDM unless you change the install options. Run "vxdmset" as root.

[rbistolfi]

Try uncomenting the TerminateServer line in /etc/kde/kdm/kdmrc

Code:

#TerminateServer=true

Make it look like this:

Code:

TerminateServer=true

You have to be root to edit it, and you can use any text editor of your choice.

HTH