Configuring Multiseat X Workstation

A multiseat X workstation allows multiple users to simultaneously use separate monitors, keyboards, and mice connected to a single computer. The configuration process typically involves the following steps:

1. Install the necessary hardware, such as multiple graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice.
2. Install a compatible operating system, such as Linux, which has built-in support for multiseat configurations.
3. Configure the X server, which controls the display and input devices, to recognize and use the multiple graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice. This can usually be done by editing the X configuration file, typically located in /etc/X11/.
4. Create a separate login session for each user. This can usually be done by configuring the display manager, such as GDM or LightDM, to create multiple seats and allow multiple users to log in simultaneously.
5. Configure the desktop environment, such as GNOME or KDE, to work with the multiseat configuration.
6. Test the configuration by logging in as multiple users simultaneously and verifying that each user has access to their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Note that the specific configuration steps may vary depending on the operating system and hardware being used, and it is recommended to consult the documentation for your specific setup.

What is x server?

The X server is a program that controls the display and input devices of a computer running the X Window System, which is a widely-used windowing system for Unix-like operating systems. The X server is responsible for managing the graphics hardware, such as a graphics card, and providing a consistent interface for applications to create and manipulate windows on the screen.

The X server also manages input devices, such as keyboard and mouse, and communicates with clients, such as graphical applications, to process their requests for displaying windows and receiving input events. The X server is the core component of the X Window System and it is responsible for managing the graphical environment.

The X server is typically run on the same machine as the applications that use it, but it can also be run on a remote machine and accessed over a network using a protocol called X11. This allows users to run graphical applications on one machine and display their output on another, which is known as remote X11 forwarding.