2.6 scheduler and "fast user switching"

[Guy <fsos_guy@earthlink.net>]

Scenario:

I typically log in as 'root' on the first console. I then invoke 
fluxbox as the GUI.

# XSESSION=fluxbox startx -- :0

I then ctl-alt-F2 another console and login as 'user1'. I then 
invoke KDE as the GUI.

$ XSESSION=kde-3.1.4 startx -- :1

I may or may not ctl-alt-Fn and login as 'usern' and repeat the 
process.

Several thoughts:

1} I've seen Nick Piggin's suggestion of nicing X server to -10. 
At the moment, the only way I know to do this is something like

# XSESSION=fluxbox nice --adjustment=-10 startx -- :N

A} My default security is that only 'root' can perform nice with 
negative values. I am reluctant to play with security for such a 
crticial command.

B} All child threads inherit the new nice value. So in the example 
just above, this means all applications started from the GUI 
desktop run at a nice value of -10. I believe enhancing the X 
server nice value this way defeats the purpose of nicing it to 
begin with. Obviously, despite my readings and attempts at 
research, I'm must be missing something here.

2} I expect to travel down to Florida for Xmass to visit family. 
One of the things I had hoped to do was to set up my mother's 
computer as an X server and hang a thin client terminal {read: 
older PC} off of it. This would allowed my mother and brother to 
share a reasonably modern system at the same time.

This is not me just being cheap. I'm interested in setting up 
diskless workstations aound a good central X server. I see such 
setups as appropriate for a number of situations. If the X server 
requires 'nicing' in a single user environment, what happens in 
an LTSP environment?

My base reference environment is 2.4.20. I still actively use it 
for everything I do as everything works as expected. 

Despite my enthusiasm for 2.6, I find it difficult to get 
everything to 'just work'. I still see problems in the area of 
nForce based mobos {stupid proprietary nVidia!}, broken BIOSes, 
and scheduler issues like the above.

Flames, instruction, suggestions, thoughts would be appreciated.

FWIW, I'm not a C/C++ programmer. I'm computer literate and am not 
afraid to run bleeding edge.

Guy

-- 
Recyle computers. Install Gentoo GNU/Linux.