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1	<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>	1	<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
2		2
3	<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xorg-config.xml,v 1.11 2005/04/11 12:05:08 swift Exp $ -->	3	<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xorg-config.xml,v 1.22 2007/06/09 12:40:12 jkt Exp $ -->
4		4
5	<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd">	5	<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd">
6		6
7	<guide link="xorg-config.xml">	7	<guide link="/doc/en/xorg-config.xml">
8		8
9	<title>The X Server Configuration HOWTO</title>	9	<title>The X Server Configuration HOWTO</title>
10		10
11	<author title="Author">	11	<author title="Author">
12	<mail link="swift@gentoo.org">Sven Vermeulen</mail>	12	<mail link="swift@gentoo.org">Sven Vermeulen</mail>
…		…
17	environment at their fingertips. This HOWTO explains what Xorg is, how to	17	environment at their fingertips. This HOWTO explains what Xorg is, how to
18	install it and what the various configuration options are.	18	install it and what the various configuration options are.
19	</abstract>	19	</abstract>
20		20
21	<!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license -->	21	<!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license -->
22	<!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 -->	22	<!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 -->
23	<license/>	23	<license/>
24		24
25	<version>1.10</version>	25	<version>1.16</version>
26	<date>2005-04-11</date>	26	<date>2007-06-09</date>
27		27
28	<chapter>	28	<chapter>
29	<title>What is the X Window Server?</title>	29	<title>What is the X Window Server?</title>
30	<section>	30	<section>
31	<title>Graphical vs Command-Line</title>	31	<title>Graphical vs Command-Line</title>
…		…
46	a powerful tool that fully enables the graphical abilities of your workstation.	46	a powerful tool that fully enables the graphical abilities of your workstation.
47	</p>	47	</p>
48		48
49	<p>	49	<p>
50	As standards are important, a standard for drawing and moving windows on a	50	As standards are important, a standard for drawing and moving windows on a
51	screen, interacting with the user through mouse and keyboard and other basic yet	51	screen, interacting with the user through mouse, keyboard and other basic, yet
52	important aspects has been created and named the <e>X Window System</e>,	52	important aspects has been created and named the <e>X Window System</e>,
53	commonly abbreviated as <e>X11</e> or just <e>X</e>. It is used on Unix, Linux	53	commonly abbreviated as <e>X11</e> or just <e>X</e>. It is used on Unix, Linux
54	and Unix-like operating systems throughout the world.	54	and Unix-like operating systems throughout the world.
55	</p>	55	</p>
56		56
…		…
68	<title>The X.org Project</title>	68	<title>The X.org Project</title>
69	<body>	69	<body>
70		70
71	<p>	71	<p>
72	The <uri link="http://www.x.org">X.org</uri> project created and	72	The <uri link="http://www.x.org">X.org</uri> project created and
73	maintains a freely redistributable open-source implementation of the X11 system.	73	maintains a freely redistributable, open-source implementation of the X11
74	It is an open source X11-based desktop infrastructure.	74	system. It is an open source X11-based desktop infrastructure.
75	</p>	75	</p>
76		76
77	<p>	77	<p>
78	Xorg provides an interface between your hardware and the graphical software	78	Xorg provides an interface between your hardware and the graphical software
79	you want to run. Besides that, Xorg is also fully network-aware, meaning you	79	you want to run. Besides that, Xorg is also fully network-aware, meaning you
…		…
82	</p>	82	</p>
83		83
84	</body>	84	</body>
85	</section>	85	</section>
86	</chapter>	86	</chapter>
		87
87	<chapter>	88	<chapter>
88	<title>Installing Xorg</title>	89	<title>Installing Xorg</title>
89	<section>	90	<section>
90	<title>Using emerge</title>	91	<title>Using emerge</title>
91	<body>	92	<body>
…		…
94	Enough chitchat, let's get to business shall we? To install Xorg, you just	95	Enough chitchat, let's get to business shall we? To install Xorg, you just
95	need to run <c>emerge xorg-x11</c>. Installing Xorg does take a while	96	need to run <c>emerge xorg-x11</c>. Installing Xorg does take a while
96	though, so you might want to grab a snack while you are waiting.	97	though, so you might want to grab a snack while you are waiting.
97	</p>	98	</p>
98		99
		100	<p>
		101	Before installing Xorg you have to configure two important variables in the
		102	<path>/etc/make.conf</path> file.
		103	</p>
		104
		105	<p>
		106	The first one is <c>VIDEO_CARDS</c>. This is used to set the video drivers that
		107	you intend to use and is usually based on the kind and brand of card you have.
		108	The most common settings are <c>nvidia</c> for Nvidia cards or <c>fglrx</c> for
		109	ATI Radeon cards. Those are the proprietary drivers from Nvidia and ATI
		110	respectively. If you would like to use the open source versions, use <c>nv</c>
		111	rather than <c>nvidia</c> in the variable, but bear in mind that using this
		112	driver means no 3d acceleration at all. The free <c>radeon</c> driver for ATI
		113	cards supports full 3D acceleration on older Radeons but doesn't work at all
		114	with the newer ones. <c>VIDEO_CARDS</c> may contain more than one driver, in
		115	this case list of them should be separated with spaces.
		116	</p>
		117
		118	<p>
		119	The second variable is <c>INPUT_DEVICES</c> and is used to determine which
		120	drivers are to be built for input devices. In most cases setting it to
		121	<c>keyboard mouse</c> should work just fine.
		122	</p>
		123
		124	<p>
		125	Now you should decide which drivers you will use and add necessary settings to
		126	the <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file:
		127	</p>
		128
		129	<pre caption="Sample make.conf entries">
		130	<comment>(For mouse and keyboard support)</comment>
		131	INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard mouse"
		132	<comment>(For Nvidia cards)</comment>
		133	VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia"
		134	<comment>(OR, for ATI Radeon cards)</comment>
		135	VIDEO_CARDS="fglrx"
		136	</pre>
		137
		138	<p>
		139	More instructions on how to configure Nvidia and ATI cards can be found in
		140	<uri link="/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml">Gentoo Linux nVidia Guide</uri> and in
		141	<uri link="/doc/en/ati-faq.xml">Gentoo Linux ATI FAQ</uri>. If you don't know
		142	which drivers you should choose, refer to these guides for more information.
		143	</p>
		144
		145	<note>
		146	If the suggested settings don't work for you, you should run <c>emerge -pv
		147	xorg-x11</c>, check all the options available and choose those which
		148	apply to your system. In different versions of Xorg and on different
		149	architectures displaying these variables can be done with <c>emerge -pv
		150	xorg-server</c> command rather than the one above. The example is for x86
		151	architecture and xorg-x11-7.0.
		152	</note>
		153
		154	<pre caption="Displaying all the driver options available">
		155	# <i>emerge -pv xorg-x11</i>
		156
		157	These are the packages that would be merged, in order:
		158
		159	Calculating dependencies... done!
		160	[ebuild R ] x11-base/xorg-x11-7.0-r1 USE="-3dfx" INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard
		161	mouse -acecad -aiptek -calcomp -citron -digitaledge -dmc -dynapro -elo2300
		162	-elographics -evdev -fpit -hyperpen -jamstudio -joystick -magellan -magictouch
		163	-microtouch -mutouch -palmax -penmount -spaceorb -summa -synaptics -tek4957
		164	-ur98 -vmmouse -void -wacom" VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia -apm -ark -chips -cirrus
		165	-cyrix -dummy -fbdev -fglrx -glint -i128 -i740 -i810 -imstt -mach64 -mga
		166	-neomagic -nsc -nv -r128 -radeon -rendition -s3 -s3virge -savage -siliconmotion
		167	-sis -sisusb -tdfx -tga -trident -tseng -v4l -vesa -vga -via -vmware -voodoo" 0
		168	kB
		169	</pre>
		170
		171	<p>
		172	After setting all the necessary variables you can install the Xorg package.
		173	</p>
		174
99	<pre caption="Installing Xorg">	175	<pre caption="Installing Xorg">
100	# <i>emerge xorg-x11</i>	176	# <i>emerge xorg-x11</i>
101	</pre>	177	</pre>
102		178
103	<p>	179	<p>
104	When the installation is finished, you might need to reinitialise some	180	When the installation is finished, you might need to re-initialise some
105	environment variables before you continue. Just run <c>env-update</c> followed	181	environment variables before you continue. Just run <c>env-update</c> followed
106	by <c>source /etc/profile</c> and you're all set. This doesn't harm your system	182	by <c>source /etc/profile</c> and you're all set.
107	in any way.
108	</p>	183	</p>
109		184
110	<pre caption="Reinitialising the environment variables">	185	<pre caption="Re-initialising the environment variables">
111	# <i>env-update</i>	186	# <i>env-update</i>
112	# <i>source /etc/profile</i>	187	# <i>source /etc/profile</i>
113	</pre>	188	</pre>
114		189
115	</body>	190	</body>
…		…
167	<pre caption="Testing the xorg.conf.new file">	242	<pre caption="Testing the xorg.conf.new file">
168	# <i>X -config /root/xorg.conf.new</i>	243	# <i>X -config /root/xorg.conf.new</i>
169	</pre>	244	</pre>
170		245
171	<p>	246	<p>
172	If all goes well, you should see a simple black and white pattern. Verify if	247	If all goes well, you should see a simple black and white pattern. Verify if
173	your mouse works correctly and if the resolution is good. You might not be able	248	your mouse works correctly and if the resolution is good. If you received errors
		249	about "/dev/mouse", try changing your mouse device to <c>/dev/input/mice</c> in
		250	the "InputDevice" section of <path>xorg.conf</path>. You might not be able to
174	to deduce the exact resolution, but you should be able to see if it's too low.	251	deduce the exact resolution, but you should be able to see if it's too low. You
175	You can exit any time by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.	252	can exit any time by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.
176	</p>	253	</p>
177		254
178	</body>	255	</body>
179	</section>	256	</section>
180	<section>	257	<section>
…		…
191	# <i>xorgconfig</i>	268	# <i>xorgconfig</i>
192	</pre>	269	</pre>
193		270
194	<p>	271	<p>
195	Another tool, also provided by Xorg, is <c>xorgcfg</c>, which will first	272	Another tool, also provided by Xorg, is <c>xorgcfg</c>, which will first
196	attempts to run <c>Xorg -configure</c> and then start the X server for more	273	attempt to run <c>Xorg -configure</c> and then start the X server for more
197	final tweaking.	274	final tweaking.
198	</p>	275	</p>
199		276
200	<pre caption="Using xorgcfg">	277	<pre caption="Using xorgcfg">
201	# <i>xorgcfg</i>	278	# <i>xorgcfg</i>
		279	<comment>(In case X crashes or the configuration fails, try:)</comment>
		280	# <i>xorgcfg -textmode</i>
202	</pre>	281	</pre>
203		282
204	</body>	283	</body>
205	</section>	284	</section>
206	<section>	285	<section>
…		…
253		332
254	<p>	333	<p>
255	If you see an ugly, loathsome, repulsive, deformed window manager, that's	334	If you see an ugly, loathsome, repulsive, deformed window manager, that's
256	<c>twm</c>. To finish the twm session, type in <c>exit</c> or Ctrl-D in the	335	<c>twm</c>. To finish the twm session, type in <c>exit</c> or Ctrl-D in the
257	upcoming xterms. You can also kill the X session using the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace	336	upcoming xterms. You can also kill the X session using the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
258	combination. This will however make X exit disgracefully - something that you	337	combination. This will however make X exit disgracefully -- something that you
259	might not always want. It doesn't hurt though :)	338	might not always want. It doesn't hurt though :)
260	</p>	339	</p>
261		340
262	</body>	341	</body>
263	</section>	342	</section>
…		…
269	<body>	348	<body>
270		349
271	<p>	350	<p>
272	If you feel that the screen resolution is wrong, you will need to check two	351	If you feel that the screen resolution is wrong, you will need to check two
273	sections in your configuration. First of all, you have the <e>Screen</e> section	352	sections in your configuration. First of all, you have the <e>Screen</e> section
274	which lists the resolutions - if any - that your X server will run at. By	353	which lists the resolutions, if any that your X server will run at. By
275	default, this section might not list any resolutions at all. If this is the	354	default, this section might not list any resolutions at all. If this is the
276	case, Xorg will estimate the resolutions based on the information in the	355	case, Xorg will estimate the resolutions based on the information in the
277	second section, <e>Monitor</e>.	356	second section, <e>Monitor</e>.
278	</p>	357	</p>
279		358
…		…
286	use a tool that searches for your monitor's specs, such as	365	use a tool that searches for your monitor's specs, such as
287	<c>sys-apps/ddcxinfo-knoppix</c>.	366	<c>sys-apps/ddcxinfo-knoppix</c>.
288	</p>	367	</p>
289		368
290	<warn>	369	<warn>
291	Do <b>not</b> "just" change the values of these two monitor-related variables	370	Do <b>not</b> "just" change the values of these two monitor related variables
292	without consulting the technical specifications of your monitor. Setting	371	without consulting the technical specifications of your monitor. Setting
293	incorrect values lead to out-of-sync errors at best and smoked up screens at	372	incorrect values lead to out-of-sync errors at best and smoked up screens at
294	worst.	373	worst.
295	</warn>	374	</warn>
296		375
297	<p>	376	<p>
298	Now let us change the resolutions. In the next example from	377	Now let us change the resolutions. In the next example from
299	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> we add the <c>Modes</c> lines and the	378	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> we add the <c>Modes</c> lines and the
300	<c>DefaultDepth</c> so that our X server starts with 24 bits at 1024x768 by	379	<c>DefaultDepth</c> so that our X server starts with 24 bits at 1024x768 by
301	default. Don't mind the given strings - they are examples and will most likely	380	default. Don't mind the given strings -- they are examples and will most likely
302	differ from the settings on your system.	381	differ from the settings on your system.
303	</p>	382	</p>
304		383
305	<pre caption="Changing the Screen section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf">	384	<pre caption="Changing the Screen section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf">
306	Section "Screen"	385	Section "Screen"
…		…
350	<title>Configuring your Mouse</title>	429	<title>Configuring your Mouse</title>
351	<body>	430	<body>
352		431
353	<p>	432	<p>
354	If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected	433	If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected
355	by the kernel at all. Mice are (device-wise) seen as	434	by the kernel at all. Mice are (device-wise) seen as
356	<path>/dev/input/mouse0</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path> if you want to	435	<path>/dev/input/mouse0</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path> if you want to
357	use several mices). In either case you	436	use several mice). In some cases <path>/dev/psaux</path> is used. In either
358	can check if the devices do represent your mouse by checking the output of those	437	case you can check if the devices do represent
359	files when you move your mouse. To end the session press <c>Ctrl-C</c>.	438	your mouse by checking the output of those files when you move your mouse. You
		439	will usually see some junk on your screen. To end the session press
		440	<c>Ctrl-C</c>.
360	</p>	441	</p>
361		442
362	<pre caption="Checking the device files">	443	<pre caption="Checking the device files">
363	# <i>cat /dev/input/mouse0</i>	444	# <i>cat /dev/input/mouse0</i>
364	<comment>(Don't forget to press Ctrl-C to end this)</comment>	445	<comment>(Don't forget to press Ctrl-C to end this)</comment>
…		…
369	</p>	450	</p>
370		451
371	<p>	452	<p>
372	If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate	453	If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate
373	<e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other	454	<e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other
374	options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used - most users	455	options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used -- most
375	will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the	456	users will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the
376	mousewheel (if applicable) to be used).	457	mousewheel (if applicable) to be used).
377	</p>	458	</p>
378		459
379	<pre caption="Changing the mouse settings in Xorg">	460	<pre caption="Changing the mouse settings in Xorg">
380	Section "InputDevice"	461	Section "InputDevice"
…		…
436	</li>	517	</li>
437	</ul>	518	</ul>
438		519
439	</body>	520	</body>
440	</section>	521	</section>
		522	<section>
		523	<title>Other resources</title>
		524	<body>
		525
		526	<p>
		527	If you want to update your system from the old monolithic Xorg to the newer,
		528	modular Xorg 7, you should refer to the <uri
		529	link="/proj/en/desktop/x/x11/modular-x-howto.xml">Migrating to Modular X
		530	HOWTO</uri>.
		531	</p>
		532
		533	<p>
		534	More information about configuring different packages to work in X environment
		535	can be found in the <uri link="/doc/en/?catid=desktop">Gentoo Desktop
		536	Documentation Resources</uri> section of our documentation.
		537	</p>
		538
		539	</body>
		540	</section>
441	</chapter>	541	</chapter>
442	</guide>	542	</guide>

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