On some architectures, there are non standard programs
which should be run at system startup, as for example
grfconfig (configure screen modes for a graphics device).

As these are non standard but belong to a correct system
startup, they sould be executed by /etc/rc.local which is
executed after the network and other stuff is up.

xdm (started by /etc/rc if configured for YES) depends
on grfconfig being run _before_. So you cannot put
grfconfig into /etc/rc.local if you want xdm to be started
automatically.

A solution could be to source /etc/local (at least)
twice (`a la lkm.conf):
- in an "early" mode (for example just after mounting
  critical file systems) where things like graphics
  and keyboard configuration are done
- in a "late" mode for all the rest

Or use two different local setup files.

Regards
-- 

Ingolf Koch         http://www.minet.uni-jena.de/~ingolf/
FSU Jena, Institut fuer Angewandte Mathematik, 07740 Jena