1. A Guide to Unix Using Linux Fourth Edition
Chapter 11
The X Window System

2. Objectives Describe the X Window System and its client/server model
Understand the role of the Window Manager
Understand desktops such as GNOME and KDE
Start the X Window System
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

3. Objectives (continued)
Interact with the X Window System and use its components
Use Nautilus and Konqueror for file management
Run an application
Configure a desktop
Shut down a system from the desktop
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

4. What is the X Window System?
X Window System: GUI that runs on Linux and many UNIX operating systems
Two popular desktops:
GNOME
KDE
Originally developed at MIT
Currently in its eleventh version: X11
Current release is R7.2.0 (X11R7)
XFree86: free version of X11 that was ported from non-PC-based UNIX computers to run on PCs
Compatible with Linux
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

5. A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

6. A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

7. X Window Clients and Servers
Use X Window System to run programs stored:
On your local computer
Over a network
X Window System uses a client/server model:
X server: underlying desktop system from which you run a program
X client: system that hosts and executes the program
X server approaches for Windows-based PCs:
X-Win32, X-Win32 Flash, and Exceed
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

8. Using Window Managers
X Window System is layered and built from components
At top layer is the Window Manager
Window Manager: controls how windows appear and how users control them
Many Window Managers have been developed
Most of them are available for free
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

9. A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

10. Using a Desktop
Desktop: provides GUI appearance, software applications, and other resources that you use
Works hand-in-hand with a Window Manager
Enables you to create and place icons in your screen’s workspace
Is customizable
Most popular UNIX/Linux desktops:
GNOME
KDE
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

11. Using GNOME GNOME: GNU Network Object Model Environment
Product of the GNU Project
Desktop environment that is used along with a Window Manager
Installed by default in Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Very user-friendly
Very popular
Compatible with X11
Compatible with a variety of Window Managers
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

12. Using KDE KDE is an alternative to GNOME
Can be installed along with GNOME
Is more popular internationally than GNOME
Offers a broader range of drag-and-drop capabilities
Intended to provide UNIX/Linux users with a graphical point-and-click experience
Compatible with X11
Compatible with a variety of Window Managers
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

13. Starting the X Window System
startx is intended for a computer or login session that does not automatically boot into X Window
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

14. Configuring Linux to Automatically Start the X Window System
To change runlevel, modify /etc/inittab
From: id:3:initdefault:
To: id:5:initdefault:
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

15. Interacting with the X Window System Using GNOME
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

16. Interacting with Windows
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

17. More About the Window Menu Button
Options of Window Menu button (when clicked):
Minimize (and Maximize/Unmaximize)
On Top
Move
Resize
Close
Always on Visible Workspace/Only on This Workspace
Move to Workspace Right (and Left)
Move to Another Workspace
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

18. Interacting with the Panel
The Panel in Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux appears, by default, at the top of the desktop
Another Panel is at the bottom
Top panel:
Bottom panel:
On left side: button to hide all windows
On right side: access to the four workspaces
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

19. Interacting with the Panel (continued)
Applications menu:
Submenus and programs that you can open
Places menu has options to:
Open your home folder
Access items on desktop
Open storage devices and file systems on computer
Create a CD/DVD
Access network servers and resources
Perform a fast search for a specific item
Access recently opened documents
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

20. Interacting with the Panel (continued)
System menu options:
A submenu for setting preferences on the computer
A submenu for administering the computer
An option to obtain help
An option to find out about GNOME
An option to learn more about the OS
An option to lock screen
An option to log off
An option to suspend the computer’s operation
An option to shut down the computer
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

21. Using Nautilus Nautilus: GNOME’s file management tool Used to:
View files and folders
Create new folders
Delete and move files and folders
Copy and paste files and folders
Configure permissions
Open a file or start a program
Access the Internet
Set a bookmark (to a file, folder, or Internet location)
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

22. Using Nautilus (continued)
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

23. Configuring the Desktop
You can customize many aspects of the X Window System
Examples:
Change background image
Specify screensaver
Configure items on the Panel
Add applets to the Panel
Add a new Panel to desktop
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

24. Changing the Background
Background: desktop area behind all windows and icons
Is customizable:
Can change color
Can specify a wallpaper to be used as background
To change background in GNOME:
Right-click a blank area in the desktop
Select Change Desktop Background
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

25. Changing the Screensaver
Use screensaver to deter unauthorized use of a server or workstation by requiring a password
In Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux:
Click System menu
Point to Preferences
Click Screensaver
In SUSE:
Click Computer menu
Click Control Center
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

26. Configuring the Panel GNOME Panel can be configured in several ways:
Add an icon or applet to the Panel
Rearrange placement of icons
Add programs you have written
Move the Panel to another location:
Move pointer to a blank area of Panel
Drag and drop Panel to another location
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27. Configuring the Panel (continued)
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

28. Adding a Menu to the Panel
You can add a menu within the Applications or Computer menu directly to the Panel
Example:
Put the Office menu on the Panel
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

29. Adding a New Panel General steps:
Right-click an open space on an existing Panel
Click New Panel
If you want to change the location of the new Panel, click and drag it to the new location
Right-click the new Panel, click Add to Panel, and select what you want to place on the Panel
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

30. Shutting Down from the GNOME Desktop
Proper shutdown is important to ensure that all files are closed and to protect file system integrity
In Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux:
Click System menu
Click Shut Down
In SUSE:
Click Computer menu
Click Log Out
Click Shut down
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

31. Interacting with the X Window System Using KDE
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

32. Interacting with Konqueror
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

33. Interacting with Kicker
Kicker is similar to the Panel in GNOME
Can be customized in several ways:
Relocate it, add/remove applets, add panels, etc.
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

34. Configuring the KDE Desktop
You can customize the KDE desktop in X Window
Examples:
Change the desktop background
Specify a screensaver
Create additional desktops
Beyond the four set up by default
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

35. Changing the Background in KDE
Right-click unused desktop area  Configure Desktop
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

36. Configuring the Screensaver
KDE offers a huge selection of screensavers
Use Configure – KDesktop utility to choose a screensaver
For security reasons, set it up so that it requires a password after it starts
Use Screen Saver option to set up your screensaver preferences
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

37. Configuring Additional Desktops
KDE is set by default to enable four desktops
Accessible through Kicker
Configurable to fewer than four or up to 20 desktops
Use the Configure – KDesktop utility
Then, click Multiple Desktops in side pane
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

38. Shutting Down from the KDE Desktop
Proper shutdown of KDE desktop is important
Ensures all of your open program and system files are properly closed and kept intact
General steps:
Click the K Menu
Click Log Out
Click End Current Session or Turn Off Computer
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

39. OpenOffice.org and Open Source Software
OpenOffice.org: suite of office productivity software
Open source software
Included in many UNIX/Linux distributions
Also available for Windows and Mac OS systems
Program elements include:
Writer
Calc
Impress
Draw
Math
Base
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

40. Summary X Window System runs on UNIX/Linux systems
Window Manager: layer with which user interacts
Use startx to start the X Window System
Modify /etc/inittab to have it start automatically
GNOME environment is a popular desktop
The Panel provides access to menus, icons, Workspace Switcher, and other utilities
Nautilus is a graphical application for managing directories/files and for navigating the file system
Desktop background and other elements are customizable
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

41. Summary (continued) KDE is another popular desktop
Similar in functionality to GNOME
Major components include:
Icons
Kicker
Similar to the Panel in GNOME
Windows
Desktop area on which to work
Konqueror: application for managing files/folders
Desktop background, screensaver, and other features are customizable
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition

42. Command Summary
A Guide to Unix Using Linux, Fourth Edition