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LFCS · Question #107

How is a display manager started?

The correct answer is B. It is started like any other system service by the init system. A display manager, such as GDM or KDM, is started as a regular system service by the init system during the boot process to provide a graphical login.

Submitted by khalil_dz· Apr 18, 2026Operation of Running Systems

Question

How is a display manager started?

Options

  • AIt is started by a user using the command startx.
  • BIt is started like any other system service by the init system.
  • CIt is started by inetd when a remote hosts connects to the X11 port.
  • DIt is started automatically when a X11 user logs in to the system console.

How the community answered

(28 responses)
  • A
    4% (1)
  • B
    93% (26)
  • D
    4% (1)

Why each option

A display manager, such as GDM or KDM, is started as a regular system service by the init system during the boot process to provide a graphical login.

AIt is started by a user using the command startx.

`startx` is used to manually start an X session from a text console, usually without a display manager, not to start the display manager itself.

BIt is started like any other system service by the init system.Correct

Display managers are designed to provide a graphical login prompt and manage user sessions, and as such, they are configured to start automatically as a service during the system boot process, typically managed by `systemd` or an older init system.

CIt is started by inetd when a remote hosts connects to the X11 port.

`inetd` manages network services that are started on demand for incoming connections; a display manager is a local graphical login service, not an `inetd`-managed network service.

DIt is started automatically when a X11 user logs in to the system console.

A display manager actually *facilitates* user login sessions by providing the login screen, rather than being started *after* an X11 user has already logged in.

Concept tested: Linux display manager startup

Source: https://ubuntu.com/blog/what-is-a-display-manager

Topics

#Display Manager#Init System#systemd#Boot Process

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