Sun Managers,
I received a couple dozen responses and several me-too's.  I was already
aware that I could run a program from rc.local, I did not know how to
bypass the login, start openwindows and then start the program.  Responses
fell into these categories:
1)invoke the program from /etc/rc.local 
  (which would not work for reasons stated above)
2)invoke the program from /etc/rc.local using:
  exec su - user -c openwin
  and make sure that the user invokes this program in $HOME/.xinitrc or
  $HOME/.openwin-init -- whichever is appropriate. If you use somethimg
  else to start your window system server (eg xinit) then use that
  instead.
3) invoke the program from /etc/rc.local using a shell script:
  Create a non-interactive shell script, that startups up openwindows in the
  background, sleeps for 5 minutes say, then startup up his program in the
  background as well. Then execute the wait command.
  Add the shell script to the /etc/rc.local file.
  su - USER_NAME -c SHELL SCRIPT > LOG_FILE 2>&1 LOG_FILE
  Make sure you set the following parameters
  setenv OPENWINHOME     /usr/openwin
  setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH /usr/openwin/lib
  setenv DISPLAY         `/usr/bin/hostname`:0.0
  setenv PATH /usr/openwin/bin/xview:/usr/openwin/bin:/usr/ucb:/usr/bin:/usr/etc
  To test the shell script have the user login to the console then use the
  at command startup the shell script in say a few minutes.  Then immediately
  logout.
4) Get 'rc.user' from the net.  It does just what you're asking.	
5) Use a batch program like the one available from UofWaterloo.
6) Suggestions regarding xdm (which we do not run).
Many people sent specific examples.  I am very grateful for everyone's
help.  We are going for #4 and if that doesn't work out, we'll put together
a shell script to be run from rc.local.  I can provide more detailed info
for anyone who needs it.  Thanks to:
tim@canon.co.uk				ted@usasoc.soc.mil
rwolf@dretor.dciem.dnd.ca		dmclaugh@tnt.acsys.com
etnibsd!vsh@uunet.UU.NET		Roberto@sunsci.cern.ch
ept@eptsun1.ctd.ornl.gov		poc@usb.ve
msolda@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu		mikeba@sa-cgy.valmet.com
nolfb@jcdbs.2000.disa.mil		Perry_Hutchison.Portland@xerox.com
gwolsk@sei.com				bobby@hot.caltech.edu
jba@ruc.dk				robert@whiplash.er.usgs.gov
b4sim@dny.rockwell.com			mwj@jakes.msfc.nasa.gov
russ@issi.com				and anyone else I missed...
-----------------
|Original Query:
|
|I have a user who needs to ensure that his program will start up
|again on boot up if there is a power loss that causes the computer
|to reboot.  The program is running on a SS2 using Openlook window
|manager and lots of graphics routines.  Is there a way to circum- 
|vent the login and restart such programs directly at boot up?
---------------
Danielle
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:07:40 CDT