What's the difference between GDM and LightDM?












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What is the difference between GDM and LightDM? How can one switch between them. I mean if I have selected LightDM during installation process, will I be able switch to GDM?










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    97















    What is the difference between GDM and LightDM? How can one switch between them. I mean if I have selected LightDM during installation process, will I be able switch to GDM?










    share|improve this question



























      97












      97








      97


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      What is the difference between GDM and LightDM? How can one switch between them. I mean if I have selected LightDM during installation process, will I be able switch to GDM?










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      What is the difference between GDM and LightDM? How can one switch between them. I mean if I have selected LightDM during installation process, will I be able switch to GDM?







      11.04 gdm login-screen lightdm






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      edited Jan 28 '12 at 1:20









      Marc-André Appel

      1,094919




      1,094919










      asked Aug 24 '11 at 21:47









      user7044user7044

      1,80182739




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          1 Answer
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          90














          Both LightDM and GDM (GNOME Display Manager) are login managers.

          They both provide graphical login capabilities (the GUI with the list of the system's users) as well as remote logins using the XDMCP protocol.



          Ubuntu is supposed to officially replace GDM in favor of the lighter and more easily customizable LightDM



          You can have both of them installed (or add even more, like KDM), but only one will be used at any time.



          The default can be selected by running:



          sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm (if gdm is already installed)



          More information on LightDM can be found on the Ubuntu wiki.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 31





            they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

            – josinalvo
            Aug 15 '12 at 14:28












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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
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          active

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          active

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          90














          Both LightDM and GDM (GNOME Display Manager) are login managers.

          They both provide graphical login capabilities (the GUI with the list of the system's users) as well as remote logins using the XDMCP protocol.



          Ubuntu is supposed to officially replace GDM in favor of the lighter and more easily customizable LightDM



          You can have both of them installed (or add even more, like KDM), but only one will be used at any time.



          The default can be selected by running:



          sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm (if gdm is already installed)



          More information on LightDM can be found on the Ubuntu wiki.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 31





            they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

            – josinalvo
            Aug 15 '12 at 14:28
















          90














          Both LightDM and GDM (GNOME Display Manager) are login managers.

          They both provide graphical login capabilities (the GUI with the list of the system's users) as well as remote logins using the XDMCP protocol.



          Ubuntu is supposed to officially replace GDM in favor of the lighter and more easily customizable LightDM



          You can have both of them installed (or add even more, like KDM), but only one will be used at any time.



          The default can be selected by running:



          sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm (if gdm is already installed)



          More information on LightDM can be found on the Ubuntu wiki.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 31





            they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

            – josinalvo
            Aug 15 '12 at 14:28














          90












          90








          90







          Both LightDM and GDM (GNOME Display Manager) are login managers.

          They both provide graphical login capabilities (the GUI with the list of the system's users) as well as remote logins using the XDMCP protocol.



          Ubuntu is supposed to officially replace GDM in favor of the lighter and more easily customizable LightDM



          You can have both of them installed (or add even more, like KDM), but only one will be used at any time.



          The default can be selected by running:



          sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm (if gdm is already installed)



          More information on LightDM can be found on the Ubuntu wiki.






          share|improve this answer















          Both LightDM and GDM (GNOME Display Manager) are login managers.

          They both provide graphical login capabilities (the GUI with the list of the system's users) as well as remote logins using the XDMCP protocol.



          Ubuntu is supposed to officially replace GDM in favor of the lighter and more easily customizable LightDM



          You can have both of them installed (or add even more, like KDM), but only one will be used at any time.



          The default can be selected by running:



          sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm (if gdm is already installed)



          More information on LightDM can be found on the Ubuntu wiki.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Oct 19 '15 at 14:15









          Tim

          20.1k1586141




          20.1k1586141










          answered Aug 25 '11 at 2:15









          Pavlos G.Pavlos G.

          7,39612733




          7,39612733








          • 31





            they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

            – josinalvo
            Aug 15 '12 at 14:28














          • 31





            they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

            – josinalvo
            Aug 15 '12 at 14:28








          31




          31





          they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

          – josinalvo
          Aug 15 '12 at 14:28





          they are not desktop managers: gnome, kde and unity are. GDM and LightDM are called login managers or display managers

          – josinalvo
          Aug 15 '12 at 14:28


















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