Поддержка ConsoleKit

GDM включает поддержку публикации информации учётной записи пользователя с помощью системы учёта сеансов пользователей ConsoleKit, которая может отслеживать вошедших пользователей и в этой роли заменять файлы utmp и utmpx, которые существуют в большинстве UNIX подобных системах.

When GDM is about to create a new login process for a user it will call a privileged method of ConsoleKit in order to open a new session for this user. At this time GDM also provides ConsoleKit with information about this user session such as: the user ID, the X11 Display name that will be associated with the session, the host-name from which the session originates (useful in the case of an XDMCP session), whether or not this session is attached, etc. As the entity that initiates the user process, GDM is in a unique position to know about the user session and to be trusted to provide these bits of information. The use of this privileged method is restricted by the use of the D-Bus system message bus security policy.

In case a user with an existing session has authenticated at GDM and requests to resume that existing session, GDM calls a privileged method of ConsoleKit to unlock that session. The exact details of what happens when the session receives this unlock signal are undefined and session-specific. However, most sessions will unlock a screensaver in response.

Когда пользователь начинает выход из системы, или GDM или сеанс неожиданно завершается, регистрация сеанса пользователя в ConsoleKit будет отменена.