lightdm fails to start with 3 connected displays but works 2 displays

[Michael Neuffer]

lightdm fails to start with 3 connected displays but works with 2 displays.

Once lightdm has started and displays the Greeter I can connect the third display without a hitch.
After logging in I can enable the third display

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output VGA-0 --off --output DP-6 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-4 --mode 3200x1800 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --scale 1.5x1.5 --mode 1920x1200 --pos 3200x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --scale 1.5x1.5 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 6080x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output DP-0 --off

When lightdm is started with all three displays connected, it will terminate and force the Xserver to go down as well, triggering a cycle of Xserver/lightdm restarts. Disconnecting the 3rd display will bring up lightdm immediately without a glitch.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
Package: lightdm 1.13.0-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-25.33-generic 3.16.7
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-25-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Thu Nov 20 14:09:40 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-30 (174 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
LightdmGreeterLog:
 (lightdm-gtk-greeter:7540): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed

 (lightdm-gtk-greeter:7540): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed

 ** (lightdm-gtk-greeter:7540): WARNING **: Failed to load user image: Failed to open file '/home/neuffer/.face': No such file or directory
SourcePackage: lightdm
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

lightdm log with 3 displays attached

[+0.00s] DEBUG: Logging to /var/log/lightdm/lightdm.log
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Starting Light Display Manager 1.13.0, UID=0 PID=4640
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration dirs from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-greeter-wrapper.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-guest-wrapper.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-xserver-command.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-xubuntu.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration dirs from /usr/local/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration dirs from /etc/xdg/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading configuration from /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Using D-Bus name org.freedesktop.DisplayManager
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Registered seat module xlocal
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Registered seat module xremote
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Registered seat module unity
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Monitoring logind for seats
[+0.00s] DEBUG: New seat added from logind: seat0
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading properties from config section SeatDefaults
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Starting
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Creating greeter session
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Creating display server of type x
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Using VT 7
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Starting local X display on VT 7
[+0.00s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Logging to /var/log/lightdm/x-0.log
[+0.00s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Writing X server authority to /var/run/lightdm/root/:0
[+0.00s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Launching X Server
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Launching process 4650: /usr/bin/X -core :0 -seat seat0 -auth /var/run/lightdm/root/:0 -nolisten tcp vt7 -novtswitch
[+0.00s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Waiting for ready signal from X server :0
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Acquired bus name org.freedesktop.DisplayManager
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Registering seat with bus path /org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Seat0
[+0.00s] DEBUG: Loading users from org.freedesktop.Accounts
[+0.00s] DEBUG: User /org/freedesktop/Accounts/User1000 added
[+2.09s] DEBUG: Got signal 10 from process 4650
[+2.09s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Got signal from X server :0
[+2.09s] DEBUG: DisplayServer x-0: Connecting to XServer :0
[+2.09s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Display server ready, starting session authentication
[+2.09s] DEBUG: Session pid=4694: Started with service 'lightdm-greeter', username 'lightdm'
[+2.10s] DEBUG: Session pid=4694: Authentication complete with return value 0: Success
[+2.10s] DEBUG: Seat seat0: Session authenticated, running command
[+2.10s] DEBUG: Session pid=4694: Running command /usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm-greeter-session /usr/sbin/lightdm-gtk-greeter
[+2.10s] DEBUG: Creating shared data directory /var/lib/lightdm-data/lightdm
[+2.10s] DEBUG: Session pid=4694: Logging to /var/log/lightdm/x-0-greeter.log
[+2.11s] DEBUG: Activating VT 7
[+2.11s] DEBUG: Activating login1 session c3
[+2.14s] DEBUG: Session pid=4694: Greeter connected version=1.13...

[Andrew P. (kalgasnik)]

Since you are using gtk-greeter - can you test version from this PPA?
https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-background-transition

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

On 20.11.2014 20:55, Andrew P. wrote:
> Since you are using gtk-greeter - can you test version from this PPA?
> https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-background-transition
>

Yes, the new version works fine!
No more fiddling with monitor cables.

Please do not wait to long before uploading it. :-)

Thanks!

Cheers
   Mike

[Andrew P. (kalgasnik)]

Good. Please post your current greeter log and config.

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

Since launchpad isn't willing to let me attach the files, I'm posting them as a comment.....

root@charion:/etc/lightdm# ls -la
total 28
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Nov 20 23:16 .
drwxr-xr-x 185 root root 12288 Nov 21 11:57 ..
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jul 17 00:12 lightdm.conf.d
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 55 Mai 30 10:38 lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf -> /etc/alternatives/lightdm-gtk-greeter-config-derivative
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1317 Mär 13 2014 lightdm-gtk-greeter-ubuntu.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 452 Jun 5 22:52 users.conf

root@charion:/etc/lightdm# ls -la lightdm.conf.d
total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jul 17 00:12 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Nov 20 23:16 ..
root@charion:/etc/lightdm#

root@charion:/etc/lightdm# ls -la /etc/alternatives/lightdm-gtk-greeter-config-derivative
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 53 Mai 30 10:38 /etc/alternatives/lightdm-gtk-greeter-config-derivative -> /etc/xdg/xdg-xubuntu/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
root@charion:/etc/lightdm# ls -la /etc/xdg/xdg-xubuntu/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2224 Aug 27 01:21 /etc/xdg/xdg-xubuntu/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf

root@charion:/etc/lightdm# cat /etc/xdg/xdg-xubuntu/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
#
# background = Background file to use, either an image path or a color (e.g. #772953)
# active-monitor = Monitor to display greeter window (name or number). Use #cursor value to display greeter at monitor with cursor.
# user-background = Display user background (if available), true or false. true by default.
# theme-name = GTK+ theme to use
# icon-theme-name = Icon theme to use
# font-name = Font to use
# xft-antialias = Whether to antialias Xft fonts (true or false)
# xft-dpi = Resolution for Xft in dots per inch (e.g. 96)
# xft-hintstyle = What degree of hinting to use (none, slight, medium, or hintfull)
# xft-rgba = Type of subpixel antialiasing (none, rgb, bgr, vrgb or vbgr)
# show-indicators = semi-colon ";" separated list of allowed indicator modules. Built-in indicators include "~a11y", "~language", "~session", "~power". Unity indicators can be represented by short name (e.g. "sound", "power"), service file name, or absolute path
# show-clock (true or false)
# clock-format = strftime-format string, e.g. %H:%M
# keyboard = command to launch on-screen keyboard (e.g. onboard)
# reader = command to launch screen reader (e.g. orca)
# a11y-states = states of accessibility features: "name" - save state on exit, "-name" - disabled at start (default value for unlisted), "+name" - enabled at start. Allowed names: contrast, font, keyboard, reader.
# position = main window position: x y
# default-user-image = Image used as default user icon, path or #icon-name
# hide-user-image = true|false, false by default
# screensaver-timeout = Timeout (in seconds) until the screen blanks when the greeter is called as lockscreen
#
# Template for monitor configuration:
# [monitor: name]
# background = overrides default value
# user-background = overrides default value
# laptop = true|false, false by default. Marks monitor as laptop display.
#
[greeter]
background=/lib/plymouth/themes/xubuntu-logo/wallpaper.png
theme-name=Greybird
icon-theme-name=el...

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

The current version of the new greeter exhibits a new issue:

It is not possibe to start typing in the password immediately when connected to 2 displays.
Even clicking into the password field doesn't work.

First I must click into the filed above and select the account (my own account)
to log in with. Only then there is a cursor in the password field and the password can be entered.

[Andrew P. (kalgasnik)]

Can't confirm for for ArchLinux (Gtk 3.14) with 2 monitors. Questions:
0. proposed branch has been updated today - is bug still here?
If "yes":
1. Greeter config
2. Is it works with one or three monitors?
3. Just to confirm - password entry do not have focus (blinking cursor) until you select "Users" combobox. Right?
4. Is it works if you first focus other UI controls (panel menu)?
5. Is it works with old version?

Add this option to greeter config and describe the results:
active-monitor=0

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

On 28.11.2014 20:18, Andrew P. wrote:
> Can't confirm for for ArchLinux (Gtk 3.14) with 2 monitors. Questions:
> 0. proposed branch has been updated today - is bug still here?
> If "yes":

Yes, includings with todays update. (I just retested)

> 1. Greeter config

Same as before, it is untouched.

> 2. Is it works with one or three monitors?

It works with one. I tried with two and with three as well in the
multi-monitor setups I had problems.

> 3. Just to confirm - password entry do not have focus (blinking cursor) until you select "Users" combobox. Right?

Yes. Another workaround that I just found (and which it the reason why I
didn't initially see it with 3 monitors) is to move the mouse from the
primary monitor to another. This causes the greeter-dialogbox to follow.
When it does, the passwort entry gets the focus.

So the initial focus is missing and only gets set when the greeter gets
re-drawn.

So I guess the definition of the greeterbox is lacking the defintion
where the focus should be and it gets set explicitly when the greeter is
re-drawn. This would explain the behaviour.

> 4. Is it works if you first focus other UI controls (panel menu)?

No.

> 5. Is it works with old version?

Yes

> Add this option to greeter config and describe the results:
> active-monitor=0

I didn't test that yet.

Cheers
   Mike

[Andrew P. (kalgasnik)]

>
> > 4. Is it works if you first focus other UI controls (panel menu)?
> No.
>
Using TAB/F10 or mouse pointer?

> > 5. Is it works with old version?
> Yes
>
Have you reinstalled old version? Just to confirm that some other updates
are not related to this bug.

[Michael Neuffer (neuffer)]

On 01.12.2014 13:46, Andrew P. wrote:
>>
>>> 4. Is it works if you first focus other UI controls (panel menu)?
>> No.
>>
> Using TAB/F10 or mouse pointer?

Always using the mouse. I didn't even know about TAB/F9

>>> 5. Is it works with old version?
>> Yes
>>
> Have you reinstalled old version? Just to confirm that some other updates
> are not related to this bug.
>

No I have not re-installed an old version.
I am sure it used to work though, since I used able to type in the
password blindly before the monitors managed to wake up from standby,
when _I_ got woken up from my standby in the middle of the night.......

Cheers
    Mike