My setup is: 1) server running KDE 3.4 on Gentoo 2) Desktop machines running Suse and Windows The server has been configured with x11vnc which allows a user to access the currently running desktop over ssh. They can then spawn an application and disconnect while leaving the app running. The users are mobile hence the need to disconnect from the server but leave the apps running - often they will run for days or even weeks before completing. This works well but requires that the kde session is running i.e. that the user is logged in on the server and has a local X session. If the server is taken down for any reason, possibly a power failure, the kde sessions will not start automatically and x11vnc will then fail to start - XOpenDisplay failed (:0) The system is configured to use kdm and to startkde at boot. This spawns the kdm_greet process, at least I assume that is what happens and that kde_greet is the 'login screen' that kde presents to the user. Is this correct? When a users enters their login and password is it passed to kde_greet? Is it possible to start a kde session on the server when logged in using ssh? That is can a session be started that will run locally on the server allowing the vnc server to be started and the vnc connection established? Equally importantly will the kde session be detached - will it continue to run when the ssh connection is terminated? many thanks for any help Ted -- ---------------------------------------------------- Ted Bartlett Terra Energy Services Direct line: 00 27 (0)31 7671585 Mobile: 00 27 (0)73 4603100 ---------------------------------------------------- CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail and any attachment is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient or you receive this e-mail in error, lease notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to another person or take or print copies or use it for any other purpose, but delete it immediately. VIRUSES: We offer no guarantees that this e-mail or any attachment will be received error or virus free and accept no responsibility whatever in this regard. SECURITY: This transmission is not guaranteed as secure. We do not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this e-mail which results from this transmission. ___________________________________________________ . Account management: https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde. Archives: http://lists.kde.org/. More info: http://www.kde.org/faq.html.