Re: on exit xterm totally wrecks linux 2.4.11 to 2.4.14-pre6 (unkillable processes)

[Nick LeRoy <nleroy@cs.wisc.edu>]

On Thursday 01 November 2001 14:00, Pierre Rousselet wrote:
> Nick LeRoy wrote:
> > On Thursday 01 November 2001 13:31, Pierre Rousselet wrote:
> >>Ricardo Martins wrote:
> >>> >> Procedure
> >>> >> In X windows (version 4.1.0 compiled from the sources) when writing
> >>> >> "exit" in xterm to close the terminal emulator, the window freezes,
> >>> >> and from that moment on, every process becomes "unkillable",
> >>> >> including
> >>>
> >>>xterm
> >>>
> >>> >> and X (ps also freezes), and there's no way to shutdown GNU/Linux in
> >>> >> a sane way (must hit reset or poweroff).
> >>> >
> >>> >I can see the problem here with 2.4.13. I don't know if it's kernel
> >>> >related, I'm used using rxvt, never xterm.
> >>> >
> >>> >It looks like xterm takes the terminal where you started X from.
> >>> >
> >>> >Are you using devfs ?
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> >Pierre
> >>>
> >>>Pierre, yes, i'm using devfs that seems to be the problem, do you know
> >>>how to fix it ?
> >>
> >>Is it devfs or xterm which needs to be fixed ? I would
> >>
> >>suggest to switch to rxvt which works fine with/without devfs.
> >
> > With all due respect, I'd have to differ.....  Do you have any idea how
> > many people are running how many copies of xterm as we speak?  Even if we
> > pair that down to all those running devfs, it's certainly a substantial
> > number. The kernel should, above all else, run old applications without
> > breaking them.
> >
> > -Nick
>
> devfs is still marked EXPERIMENTAL in the kernel building. If you select it
> you
>
> must be prepared to tolerate some misbehaviour. rxvt is not newer than
> xterm, it is lighter.

Marked experiment, for now.  What about when it's no longer "experimental"?  
Configuring a kernel to enable such a feature should *not* break 
applications, especially something as prolific as xterm.

-Nick