Fwd: Is disabling ctrl-alt-backspace really such a good idea?

[John Moser]

Thomas Jaeger wrote:
> John Moser wrote:
>> On 2/12/09, Thomas Jaeger <thjaeger at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> Things that can happen:
>>>>
>>>> * Client can grab keys but hang.
>>> In that case, you get the X Server back to normal by killing the client
>>> and you should try and fix the client.
>> Killing the client actually prevents X from having any input; you lose
>> the input until you open a similar client (i.e. qemu) that regrabs,
>> then close it normally so it releases.
> 
> This is not how grabs work.  If a client that has grabbed the
> Keyboard/Pointer/Server is killed all grabs are automatically released.
> 

Try this when qemu freezes.  I've frequently had to C-A-F1, kill qemu, 
then alt-F7 back and ... wow, nothing works.  C-A-F1, DISPLAY=0:0 qemu, 
go back, hit a button, hit C-A to release grab, and close qemu.  Repeatably.

>>>> * Xorg/drivers can have a bug that locks the screen.
>>> As I said before, I doubt C-A-B will help you there. Shift+SysRq+K
>>> might, though.
>> Happens occasionally.  Shouldn't.  It breaks X clients' ability to
>> talk to the screen, doesn't update the screen, so everything waiting
>> on X hangs; but X still picks up the C-A-B somehow and dies.
> Bug report?
> 
>> Computers will always do very strange thnigs, most of which don't make
>> sense and shouldn't happen.
> Those things can be fixed though.
> 

Yes, exactly.  Just don't be surprised if someone says something happens 
that shouldn't.