startx Command

Purpose

Initializes an X session.

Syntax

startx [ -d Display:0 ] [ -t | -w ] [ -x Startup | [ -r Resources ] [ -m Window_Manager ] ] [ -wait ]

Description

The startx command streamlines the process of starting an X session.

The command does the following:

• Sets the user's DISPLAY environment variable to identify the X server to the X clients
• When run from a workstation, starts the X server
• Starts the X clients.

The startx command redirects X server and X client error messages to the file specified by the user's XERRORS environment variable. This process is useful for debugging and gives the X server a clean startup and shutdown appearance on a workstation.

If a startup script file name is not given at the command line with the -x option, then the startx command searches for a file specified by the user's XINITRC environment variable. If the XINITRC environment variable is not set, then the startx command searches the user's home directory for a file called .Xinit, .xinit, .Xinitrc, .xinitrc, or .xsession, respectively, to begin the X client programs.

If a startup file is not found, the startx command runs the Window Manager indicated at the command line with the -m option, or invokes the window manager mwm, twm, awm, or uwm after finding the associated configuration file (.mwmrc, .twmrc , .awmrc, or .uwmrc, respectively). If a window manager configuration file is not found in the user's home directory, startx initiates an Xterm client and the mwm window manager.

When a startup file is not found, the startx command also instructs the loading of the resources file given at the command line with the -r option, or a file from the user's home directory called .Xdefaults, .xdefaults, .Xresources, or .xresources, respectively. If an X resources file is not found, then the X session will not be personalized.

If a startup file exists for a workstation and no resources are loaded by the user, then the xinit command within the startx command attempts to load an .Xdefaults file.

The use of a workstation is assumed when the X session is initiated from /dev/lft*. If this is not the case, then the -t or -w option must be used.

Flags

Note: You can use one or both of the -m and -r options, or the -x option, but you cannot use the -x option with the -m and -r options. In the startup script, it is the responsibility of the user to start a window manager session, load X resources, and spawn X clients.

Examples

1. To start an X session on a workstation, or an X terminal, enter:

   startx

2. To force start an X session on a workstation, enter:

   startx -w

3. To start an X session for an X terminal, and log off the user's telnet session, enter:

   startx; kill -9 $$

4. To start an X session using the .xinitrc script, enter:

   startx -x .xinitrc

5. To start an X session using the mwm window manager, enter:

   startx -m mwm

   However, if a startup script file is found, the -w option is ignored.
6. In the startup script, it is the responsibility of the user to start a window manager, load X resources, and spawn X clients. The following is an example of an .xsession script.

   #!/bin/csh
    (mwm &)
    xrdb -load .Xdefaults
    (xclock -g 75x75+0+0 &)
    (xbiff -g 75x75+101-0 &)
    if ("/dev/lft*" == "`tty`") then
       aixterm -g 80x24+0+0 +ut -C -T `hostname`
    else
       aixterm -g 80x24+0+0 +ut -T `hostname`
    endif

For a workstation, the last line in the startup script should be a foreground aixterm command with the -C option for console messages.

For an X terminal, the last line in the startup script should be a foreground aixterm command without the -C option. In addition, because some X terminals do not terminate the telnet session upon closing, the user must exit the current telnet session before using hot keys to switch to the X session.

Also, the startx command can be used by the xdm command in the /usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xsession file. This provides the xdm command with the features of the startx command.

Files

The following file names have been historically used for the startup of an X session.

Related Information

The mwm command, xinit command, xdm command, aixterm command, telnet, tn, or tn3270 command, X command, and xrdb command.