How to exit 'startx' on VirtualBox

srasku · n00b Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver, BC

I have a Gentoo guest on OS X host.

I've used these instructions to configure X on my VM:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Xorg/Configuration

It starts up and I have three xterm windows which I can type in. How do I exit X? There are no instructions on how to do that on the above page. I am used to using Ctrl-Alt-Backspace for Linux on native hardware but that sequence is being ignored by VirtualBox. I think it may be captured by the OS. The backspace key is actually labelled "delete" on my Mac keyboard.

keet · Guru Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 570

If you close the three xterm windows, it should exit. You can type 'exit' and press Enter in each one.

nenemsis5 · n00b Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 72

enter in the biggest terminal:

Pearlseattle · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:54 pm Post subject:

in one of 3 xterm windows enter "killall X"

russK · l33t Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 665

I'm using VirtualBox 4.3.10, and there is the option from the Machine menu, "Machine->Insert Ctrl-Alt-Backspace", that also suggests Host+Backspace will do the same. "Host" is typically the Right-Ctrl key.

Hope this helps.

The Doctor · Moderator Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 2678

X doesn't respond to Ctrl-Alt-Backspace anymore unless you enable the behavior.

For testing purposes I usually prefer startx &; sleep 10; killall X This series of commands will allow 10 seconds of X to test and then kill the server for better or worse. Often I skip testing the X server unless the WM I want doesn't work.

You can also use alt+shift+F1 to get back to your login session and use control+c to kill it that way.
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Apologies if I take a while to respond. I'm currently working on the dematerialization circuit for my blue box.

khayyam · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:30 am Post subject:

russK · l33t Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 665

Right, Ctrl-Alt-Backspace doesn't work with my gentoo install, but it worked with a RedHat install that I have in a VirtualBox.

Also, 'killall X', may not work, you might need 'killall Xorg', that's what happened with my gentoo install.

srasku · n00b Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver, BC

Thanks for the replies. I was able to exit X. Now to configure GNOME...