Ubuntu – Starting a guest session from the login screen

10.04gdmguest-session

I was wondering what is the best way to start the guest session from the login screen (GDM).

Currently, I created a new user called 'ubuntu-guest' (has to be something other than 'guest'). Then added the following script to the Startup Applications.

#!/bin/bash
/usr/share/gdm/guest-session/guest-session-launch &
/usr/bin/gnome-session-save --logout

The problem with this method, is that when you log in as 'ubuntu-guest', you have to start up two gnome sessions: one for 'ubuntu-guest' and one for the actual guest account.

Please let me know if you have any other better ideas. Thanks!

Best Answer

1. Never allow any Temporary User without a password to gain Access Control of your computer! FIRST Make a policy to prevent the single user guest from making system wide changes open text editor gksu gedit /etc/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/10-desktop-policy.pkla insert text

[guest-policy]
Identity=unix-user:guest
Action=*
ResultAny=no
ResultInactive=no
ResultActive=no

2. open terminal and start typing

sudo addgroup --system --quiet --gid 126 guest
sudo useradd -c Guest,,, -d /tmp/guest-home.UBUNTU -m -s /bin/bash -g guest guest
sudo usermod --uid 117 --gid 126 guest

to create blank password for this account:

sudo usermod --password U6aMy0wojraho guest

to create Not asked for password on login for this account:

sudo usermod --groups nopasswdlogin guest

Edit /etc/gdm/gdm.schemas type:

gksu gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.schemas

and add guest to greeter/Include default

    <schema>
      <key>greeter/Include</key>
      <signature>s</signature>
      <default>guest</default>
    </schema>

now sudo restart gdm

NOTE: you will no longer be abel login to guest sessions from user accounts this is the new guest session and you will only be able to login from login screen any changes to this account will remain on logout until the computer restarts.

to restore open terminal and type:

sudo userdel guest

then sudo restart gdm

to copy your settings for guest session

sudo cp -R ~/.gconf/desktop /etc/gconf/gconf.xml.system/
sudo cp -R ~/.gconf/apps /etc/gconf/gconf.xml.system/
sudo chmod 777 -R /etc/gconf/gconf.xml.system/desktop
sudo chmod 777 -R /etc/gconf/gconf.xml.system/apps
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