# Allow a program to continue after logoff

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The systemd package is built not to kill user process on log out by default, see Systemd/User#Kill user processes on logout.

There are several ways to make a program continue after logoff:

- use the nohup(1) GNU coreutil
- use the `disown` Bash/Zsh shell builtin
- use a terminal multiplexer, also allowing you to reattach to your detached session.

## X applications

As xmove is dead, you probably want to use something else.

### Secondary X server

With your favourite editor make a script with this content, use chmod to make it executable (`chmod a+x scriptname.sh`).

    #!/bin/sh

    if [ $# -eq 0 ] ; then # check to see if arguments are given (color depth)
        a=24        # default color depth
    else
        a=$1        # use given argument
    fi

    if [ $a -ne 8 -a $a -ne 16 -a $a -ne 24 ] ; then
        echo "Invalid color depth. Use 8, 16, or 24."
        exit 1
    fi

    for display in 0 1 2 3 4 5 ; do
        if [ ! -f "/tmp/.X$display-lock" ] ; then
            exec startx -- :$display -depth $a -quiet
            exit 0
        fi
    done

    echo "No displays available."
    exit 1

executing this little script will start a new X server. Then you can simply start your application and lock the server with `xlock -mode blank` (you need the xlockmore package for using xlock(1).)

Do not start your application in the first X server. If it is not already started, start the first and start a second one. Use the second one for your applications.

This is important because some features, like AGP mode, works only on one X server and other users of the computer will be annoyed if those feature will be lacking because you started a X server for your own purposes. So just use the second, the first will be full featured for everyone who need.

### xpra

Xpra allows you to start X programs and leave them running after disconnecting to reconnect again at a later time. It is possible to start X programs on a remote machine, connect to the machine over ssh, disconnect and reconnect again while the programs continue running.

### X2Go

X2Go supports suspending of sessions and reconnecting even from different client. While designed for remote access, it can be used even on localhost.

Category:

- System administration