Ubuntu needs a command to restart X

[dotancohen]

Now that Ctrl-Alt-Bksp is disabled in Jaunty, Ubuntu needs a new universal way to restart the X server. Their are still plenty of reasons to restart the X server for which Ubuntu has no control, such as faulty proprietary video drivers.

I am aware that the user could configure nozap however that must be done beforehand. In Ubuntu's default configuration their should be a way to perform this commonly necessary feat.

[John Hubbard (ender8282)]

I agree that there needs to be a way to restart a hung X from withing X. I propose ctrl+alt+bksp.

[Shabakthanai (stevenvollom)]

I too am in agreement. I am one with less experience, and could use the help until I understand the better way. Thanks!

[Douglas_Knapp (magick-crow)]

Why in the world would ctrl+alt+bksp be deactivated? It is not like anyone ever presses that by mistake and if they do and you want to make sure than just add a pop up. Getting rid of it is a bit like de-inventing the wheel.

[Bouncer (ubuntu-swhi)]

I can't help but agree. This is a standard *nix key combination and most X users who aren't entirely new to *nix really depend on it being there on the rare occasions its needed. Fair to say that *buntu is geared towards new users, but I see no reason to alienate more experienced users at the same time.

Please re-enable this key combo.

[dotancohen (dotancohen)]

I would like to stress that the purpose of this bug report is _not_ to advocate the return of Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, but rather to enable some form of resetting the X server without having to have something preconfigured (such as nozap). So far as I care, it could be C-A-B or anything else.

[Avi Greenbury (bigreds)]

Much as I support this, I can't help but feel that whatever replacement is implemented will be phased out in several releases time when that, too, becomes whatever ctrl-alt-backspace has become now.

At the very least, I hope the nozap setting is an install-time configuration.

[auxbuss (launchpad-auxbuss)]

I too agree that there needs to be a way to restart a hung X from within X. I second ctrl+alt+bksp.

[Rick Spencer (rick-rickspencer3)]

All - Thanks for your feedback regarding this upstream change. This has been discussed in the community again and again, and while there are good points on both sides, we should stick with the decision made at UDS Jaunty, to not a carry a delta between upstream and Ubuntu on this.

Please note that this function has not been removed from X, as the original submitter noted, it has to be enabled explicitly. Also note that users do, in fact, inadvertently invoke this function. Also note that there are multiple work arounds if you have not enabled this function.

[dotancohen (dotancohen)]

> Please note that this function has not been removed from X, as the
> original submitter noted, it has to be enabled explicitly. Also note
> that users do, in fact, inadvertently invoke this function. Also note
> that there are multiple work arounds if you have not enabled this function.

Rick, if there are "multiple workarounds" then the issue is solved. What are these workarounds? Specifically, how can a tech restart the X server on a machine that does not have nozap enabled?