can't switch user on virtualbox

Hi

 I have opensuse Leap 42.2 installed on virtualbox 5.1.14, running in Windows 10 as host operating system.

I use xfce as desktop.

I have created a couple of users (they are not administrators, and there is also the root user). I would like to switch between their sessions without having to log out.

I have seen that I can’t switch user (I click the command on the low right button on the taskbar, but nothing happens). Is there something that I must do in order to enable user switching ?

Thanks,

               Marco

We can likely say your issues have nothing to do with the Windows host or Virtualbox. It really sounds like a configuration error or corruption of something on your installation of Leap.

For fun I installed Leap 42.2 with XFCE into Virtualbox 5.1.14 on top of Windows 10. I then fully updated it with the latest patches. I added two new users and I am able to switch among them without having to log out of any active user. I clicked my username at the bottom right of the screen then selected Switch User, just as I am sure you’ve done.

Is this a new installation of Leap in your Virtualbox, or is it an upgrade from Leap 42.1 or some other version of openSUSE?

It’s a fresh new installation on a new virtual machine. I must say that I always install all the desktops available (also kde, gnome, mate and so on), and then I mostly use xfce. I also have to say that I have had this problem since at least the 2 or 3 last versions of opensuse.

Maybe there’s something wrong in my initial package choice in the installation menu.

Could it be some missing package ?

Thanks,

         Marco

A fresh installation, good. When I installed Leap I only installed XFCE and not any of the other environments. Maybe that could be causing you some troubles? Try another installation with just XFCE.

Are you using the default software installation when installing Leap, or are you making custom selections?

Another thing to do is a hash check on the ISO. I always do that on every ISO I download. Who knows, you might have a corrupt ISO. I use this program when verifying ISOs on Windows: http://download.cnet.com/MD5-SHA-Checksum-Utility/3000-2092_4-10911445.html

Thanks for your suggestion. I have downloaded the tool and checked the iso, and the hash code is ok.

I make many custom selections : I usually try to include all the desktops, and all the in-bundle software of each of the guis, and most of the development tools (I tend to exclude just php and perl).

What I know is that I have this problem since some versions of opensuse, also on different machines (always with the latest virtualbox installed on the latest windows; even the vbox additions don’t solve the problem).

If you know some command or tool I could extract the list of installed software on my distribution.

Hmm, if the ISO is ok then it must be something with the custom selection of software you’re installing.

You can get a list of installed packages with this command:

zypper packages -i

I still don’t think it’s a problem associated with Virtualbox. It could be, but in my mind the chances are very low.

In the XFCE Desktop, try
Click on your Application Launch button (typically the leftmost of your Application bar or Panel), then select “Logout”
From there,
You should see a number of buttons for various session functions including shutdown, logout

I’ve found that the actual way your options are displayed depends on the Desktop Manager you’re using, which is typically associated with the first Desktop you installed (The Desktop Manager stays the same and doesn’t change when you switch between Desktops).

If you can’t do the above for some reason, then try changing your Display Manager to lightdm(It’s commonly recommended by many Desktops), then reboot.

TSU

Thank you very much, passing desktop manager to lighdm solved my problem, now my system switches between users normally.

If anyone else has the same problem, I have found here : SDB:Change Display Manager - openSUSE Wiki
instructions on how to change desktop manager to lightdm.

Marco