stop and start X server in FreeBSD 9.0

[Mike Clarke]

On Tuesday 02 October 2012 14:49:54 Polytropon wrote:

> For the desired test scenario, I'd suggest to disable KDE
> (kdm) startup in /etc/rc.conf, and finally stop the related
> service (from /usr/local/etc/rc.d probably). Then you can
> easily use the "startx" command to start an X session from
> a user's VT, test your settings, terminate the session,
> and you'll be back in text mode.

The OP is using kdm3 which is normally  managed through /etc/ttys instead of 
an rc script.

To stop kdm3:

* edit /etc/ttys, find the line 'ttyv8   "/usr/local/bin/kdm" xterm on secure' 
and changie "on" to "off"
* kill -1 1
* killall kdm-bin

To restart

* edit /etc/ttys and change "off" back to "on" for kdm
* kill -1 1

But it isn't necessary to do all this just to pick up changes in xorg.conf. 
Just make your desired changes to xorg.conf, then log out of kde and switch 
to a console as root and killall kdm-bin. This will stop and start X as well 
as kdm.

You can do all this from a terminal window in your kde session but I prefer to 
logout cleanly instead of having the rug pulled from under my feet which has 
sometimes corruptedf my kdmrc file.

-- 
Mike Clarke