XWN740 X-Windows Configuring and Using Configuring the X Windows Server (Chapter 3: Pages 40-65)‏

Agenda Configuring the X Windows Server: Background X windows server configuration tools Allowing X to configure itself X.org configuration sections

Configuring X Windows X.org is an educational non-profit corporation that provides open source implementation of the X Windows system. As discussed in a previous lesson, most open source operating system distributions adopted the X.org server.. There are hundreds of video cards, keyboards, and pointer devices available in the PC marketplace, and the X.org server must support thousands of equipment combinations. The xorg.conf file lets you manage this diversity by specifying exactly how you want the X server to operate.

Configuring X Windows Main devices managed by the X Window server: Each X Windows server manages one display and must be configured to manage three types of devices: one or more screens, each consisting of a video card and a monitor one or more pointing devices one or more keyboards

Configuring X Windows The man page for xorg.conf defines a large number of locations where an X configuration file may be located. Unless the X server is being run as root, the file must be placed in a location which is (traditionally) only accessible to the system administrator, to prevent damage to hardware. The standard location for the X configuration file is: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Configuring X Windows Creating an X configuration File: Most Linux vendors provide a configuration tool for the X server. For example, SUSE provides sax2, ubuntu provides displayconfig-gtk and Fedora provides system-config-display. The X server itself is also capable of generating a configuration file when the -configure option is used. eg. X -configure

Configuring X Windows Example of X -configure [root] X -configure :1 This is a pre-release version of the X server from The X.Org Foundation.It is not supported in any way. Display of Configuration information..... Your xorg.conf file is /root/xorg.conf.new To test the server, run 'X -config /root/xorg.conf.new'

Configuring X Windows xorg.conf Sections The xorg.conf file has sections which correspond to the devices to be configured: Device (video card)‏ Monitor Screen - ties together a Device and Monitor section InputDevice (pointer or keyboard)‏ SeverLayout -(optional) ties together two or more InputDevice sections with one or more Screen sections

Configuring X Windows Writing or Editing a Config File xorg.conf file sections are identified with the Section and EndSection keywords; the lines between these keywords specify various values: Section "Device" Identifier "VideoCard-0" Driver "nv" Option "HWCursor" "On" EndSection The Identifier line associates a name with this section, which is used for cross-referencing when issuing X command with options. For full details on the syntax, see the man page...

Configuring X Windows Writing or Editing a Config File Options provide the user to make special modifications to the specified hardware. For example, it may seem strange xorg.conf file requires one or more keyboards and/or mice, but it was stated at beginning of semester X Windows requires one or more monitors, zero or more keyboards or mice. For the mouse section, and option “AllowMouseOpenFail” provides the ability to run X windows without a mouse. If there are no keyboards, system assumes keyboard fails...

Configuring X Windows Additional xorg.conf Sections Additional sections configure server attributes which are not directly tied to the hardware: Files - specifies FontPath and RGBPath locations ServerFlags - options that control the overall server operation Module - lists modules that should be loaded in addition to device drivers; typically used for optional extensions Mode (or ModeLine) - defines special video modes Entensions - enables or disables special extensions such as COMPOSITE.

Configuring X Windows Additional xorg.conf Sections Additional sections configure server attributes which are not directly tied to the hardware: DRI - configured the Direct Render Interface VideoAdaptor - configures Xv hardware. No one knows what this section does any more! Vendor - vendor-specific information (e.g., which configuration tool generated the file)‏

Configuring X Windows Final Considerations when Configuring X Get to know the most common tools available for generating an xorg.conf file, including their strengths and weaknesses. Learn the most common locations for the configuration file Become familiar with the main sections of this file and how the sections are related to each other Learn how to find details about the specific contents of this file when you need that information (eg. man pages)‏