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| 2 | <!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> |
2 | <!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> |
| 3 | <!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xorg-config.xml,v 1.25 2007/10/18 18:20:10 nightmorph Exp $ --> |
3 | <!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xorg-config.xml,v 1.28 2009/01/26 08:08:22 nightmorph Exp $ --> |
| 4 | |
4 | |
| 5 | <guide link="/doc/en/xorg-config.xml"> |
5 | <guide link="/doc/en/xorg-config.xml"> |
| 6 | <title>The X Server Configuration HOWTO</title> |
6 | <title>The X Server Configuration HOWTO</title> |
| 7 | |
7 | |
| 8 | <author title="Author"> |
8 | <author title="Author"> |
| 9 | <mail link="swift@gentoo.org">Sven Vermeulen</mail> |
9 | <mail link="swift@gentoo.org">Sven Vermeulen</mail> |
| 10 | </author> |
10 | </author> |
|
|
11 | <author title="Editor"> |
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12 | <mail link="nightmorph"/> |
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13 | </author> |
| 11 | |
14 | |
| 12 | <abstract> |
15 | <abstract> |
| 13 | Xorg is the X Window server which allows users to have a graphical |
16 | Xorg is the X Window server which allows users to have a graphical |
| 14 | 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 |
| 15 | install it and what the various configuration options are. |
18 | install it and what the various configuration options are. |
| 16 | </abstract> |
19 | </abstract> |
| 17 | |
20 | |
| 18 | <!-- 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 --> |
| 19 | <!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> |
22 | <!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> |
| 20 | <license/> |
23 | <license/> |
| 21 | |
24 | |
| 22 | <version>1.17</version> |
25 | <version>1.19</version> |
| 23 | <date>2007-06-20</date> |
26 | <date>2009-01-26</date> |
| 24 | |
27 | |
| 25 | <chapter> |
28 | <chapter> |
| 26 | <title>What is the X Window Server?</title> |
29 | <title>What is the X Window Server?</title> |
| 27 | <section> |
30 | <section> |
| 28 | <title>Graphical vs Command-Line</title> |
31 | <title>Graphical vs Command-Line</title> |
| … | |
… | |
| 30 | |
33 | |
| 31 | <p> |
34 | <p> |
| 32 | The average user may be frightened at the thought of having to type in commands. |
35 | The average user may be frightened at the thought of having to type in commands. |
| 33 | Why wouldn't he be able to point and click his way through the freedom provided |
36 | Why wouldn't he be able to point and click his way through the freedom provided |
| 34 | by Gentoo (and Linux in general)? Well, *big smile*, of course you are able to |
37 | by Gentoo (and Linux in general)? Well, *big smile*, of course you are able to |
| 35 | do this. :-) Linux offers a wide variety of flashy user interfaces and |
38 | do this. :-) Linux offers a wide variety of flashy user interfaces and |
| 36 | environments which you can install on top of your existing installation. |
39 | environments which you can install on top of your existing installation. |
| 37 | </p> |
40 | </p> |
| 38 | |
41 | |
| 39 | <p> |
42 | <p> |
| 40 | This is one of the biggest surprises new users come across: a graphical user |
43 | This is one of the biggest surprises new users come across: a graphical user |
| … | |
… | |
| 50 | 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 |
| 51 | and Unix-like operating systems throughout the world. |
54 | and Unix-like operating systems throughout the world. |
| 52 | </p> |
55 | </p> |
| 53 | |
56 | |
| 54 | <p> |
57 | <p> |
| 55 | The application that provides Linux users with the ability to run graphical |
58 | The application that provides Linux users with the ability to run graphical |
| 56 | user interfaces and that uses the X11 standard is Xorg-X11, a fork of |
59 | user interfaces and that uses the X11 standard is Xorg-X11, a fork of |
| 57 | the XFree86 project. XFree86 has decided to use a license that might not be |
60 | the XFree86 project. XFree86 has decided to use a license that might not be |
| 58 | compatible with the GPL license; the use of Xorg is therefore recommended. |
61 | compatible with the GPL license; the use of Xorg is therefore recommended. |
| 59 | The official Portage tree does not provide an XFree86 package anymore. |
62 | The official Portage tree does not provide an XFree86 package anymore. |
| 60 | </p> |
63 | </p> |
| 61 | |
64 | |
| 62 | </body> |
65 | </body> |
| 63 | </section> |
66 | </section> |
| … | |
… | |
| 66 | <body> |
69 | <body> |
| 67 | |
70 | |
| 68 | <p> |
71 | <p> |
| 69 | 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 |
| 70 | maintains a freely redistributable, open-source implementation of the X11 |
73 | maintains a freely redistributable, open-source implementation of the X11 |
| 71 | system. It is an open source X11-based desktop infrastructure. |
74 | system. It is an open source X11-based desktop infrastructure. |
| 72 | </p> |
75 | </p> |
| 73 | |
76 | |
| 74 | <p> |
77 | <p> |
| 75 | Xorg provides an interface between your hardware and the graphical software |
78 | Xorg provides an interface between your hardware and the graphical software |
| 76 | 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 |
| 77 | are able to run an application on one system while viewing it on a different |
80 | are able to run an application on one system while viewing it on a different |
| 78 | one. |
81 | one. |
| 79 | </p> |
82 | </p> |
| 80 | |
83 | |
| 81 | </body> |
84 | </body> |
| 82 | </section> |
85 | </section> |
| 83 | </chapter> |
86 | </chapter> |
| 84 | |
87 | |
| 85 | <chapter> |
88 | <chapter> |
| 86 | <title>Installing Xorg</title> |
89 | <title>Installing Xorg</title> |
| 87 | <section> |
90 | <section> |
| 88 | <title>Using emerge</title> |
|
|
| 89 | <body> |
91 | <body> |
| 90 | |
|
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| 91 | <p> |
|
|
| 92 | Enough chitchat, let's get to business shall we? To install Xorg, you just |
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| 93 | need to run <c>emerge xorg-x11</c>. Installing Xorg does take a while |
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| 94 | though, so you might want to grab a snack while you are waiting. |
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| 95 | </p> |
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| 96 | |
92 | |
| 97 | <p> |
93 | <p> |
| 98 | Before installing Xorg you have to configure two important variables in the |
94 | Before installing Xorg you have to configure two important variables in the |
| 99 | <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file. |
95 | <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file. |
| 100 | </p> |
96 | </p> |
| … | |
… | |
| 104 | you intend to use and is usually based on the kind and brand of card you have. |
100 | you intend to use and is usually based on the kind and brand of card you have. |
| 105 | The most common settings are <c>nvidia</c> for Nvidia cards or <c>fglrx</c> for |
101 | The most common settings are <c>nvidia</c> for Nvidia cards or <c>fglrx</c> for |
| 106 | ATI Radeon cards. Those are the proprietary drivers from Nvidia and ATI |
102 | ATI Radeon cards. Those are the proprietary drivers from Nvidia and ATI |
| 107 | respectively. If you would like to use the open source versions, use <c>nv</c> |
103 | respectively. If you would like to use the open source versions, use <c>nv</c> |
| 108 | rather than <c>nvidia</c> in the variable, but bear in mind that using this |
104 | rather than <c>nvidia</c> in the variable, but bear in mind that using this |
| 109 | driver means no 3d acceleration at all. The free <c>radeon</c> driver for ATI |
105 | driver means no 3D acceleration at all. The free <c>radeon</c> and |
| 110 | cards supports full 3D acceleration on older Radeons but doesn't work at all |
106 | <c>radeonhd</c> drivers for ATI cards support 3D acceleration on older Radeons |
| 111 | with the newer ones. <c>VIDEO_CARDS</c> may contain more than one driver, in |
107 | but don't yet support all the features of the newer ones. <c>VIDEO_CARDS</c> may |
| 112 | this case list of them should be separated with spaces. |
108 | contain more than one driver, in this case list of them should be separated with |
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109 | spaces. |
| 113 | </p> |
110 | </p> |
| 114 | |
111 | |
| 115 | <p> |
112 | <p> |
| 116 | The second variable is <c>INPUT_DEVICES</c> and is used to determine which |
113 | The second variable is <c>INPUT_DEVICES</c> and is used to determine which |
| 117 | drivers are to be built for input devices. In most cases setting it to |
114 | drivers are to be built for input devices. In most cases setting it to |
| 118 | <c>keyboard mouse</c> should work just fine. |
115 | <c>keyboard mouse</c> should work just fine. If you use alternative input |
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116 | devices, such as a Synaptics touchpad for a laptop, be sure to add it to |
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117 | <c>INPUT_DEVICES</c>. |
| 119 | </p> |
118 | </p> |
| 120 | |
119 | |
| 121 | <p> |
120 | <p> |
| 122 | Now you should decide which drivers you will use and add necessary settings to |
121 | Now you should decide which drivers you will use and add necessary settings to |
| 123 | the <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file: |
122 | the <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file: |
| … | |
… | |
| 131 | <comment>(OR, for ATI Radeon cards)</comment> |
130 | <comment>(OR, for ATI Radeon cards)</comment> |
| 132 | VIDEO_CARDS="fglrx" |
131 | VIDEO_CARDS="fglrx" |
| 133 | </pre> |
132 | </pre> |
| 134 | |
133 | |
| 135 | <p> |
134 | <p> |
| 136 | More instructions on how to configure Nvidia and ATI cards can be found in |
135 | More instructions on how to configure nVidia and ATI cards can be found in |
| 137 | <uri link="/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml">Gentoo Linux nVidia Guide</uri> and in |
136 | <uri link="/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml">Gentoo Linux nVidia Guide</uri> and in |
| 138 | <uri link="/doc/en/ati-faq.xml">Gentoo Linux ATI FAQ</uri>. If you don't know |
137 | <uri link="/doc/en/ati-faq.xml">Gentoo Linux ATI FAQ</uri>. If you don't know |
| 139 | which drivers you should choose, refer to these guides for more information. |
138 | which drivers you should choose, refer to these guides for more information. |
| 140 | </p> |
139 | </p> |
| 141 | |
140 | |
| … | |
… | |
| 214 | <section> |
213 | <section> |
| 215 | <title>Default: Automatic Generation of xorg.conf</title> |
214 | <title>Default: Automatic Generation of xorg.conf</title> |
| 216 | <body> |
215 | <body> |
| 217 | |
216 | |
| 218 | <p> |
217 | <p> |
| 219 | Xorg itself is able to guess most parameters for you. In most cases, you |
218 | Xorg itself is able to guess most parameters for you. In most cases, you |
| 220 | will only have to change some lines to get the resolution you want up and |
219 | will only have to change some lines to get the resolution you want up and |
| 221 | running. If you are interested in more in-depth tweaking, be sure to check the |
220 | running. If you are interested in more in-depth tweaking, be sure to check the |
| 222 | resources at the end of this chapter. But first, let us generate a (hopefully |
221 | resources at the end of this chapter. But first, let us generate a (hopefully |
| 223 | working) Xorg configuration file. |
222 | working) Xorg configuration file. |
| 224 | </p> |
223 | </p> |
| 225 | |
224 | |
| 226 | <pre caption="Generating an xorg.conf file"> |
225 | <pre caption="Generating an xorg.conf file"> |
| 227 | # <i>Xorg -configure</i> |
226 | # <i>Xorg -configure</i> |
| 228 | </pre> |
227 | </pre> |
| … | |
… | |
| 427 | |
426 | |
| 428 | <p> |
427 | <p> |
| 429 | If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected |
428 | If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected |
| 430 | by the kernel at all. Mice are (device-wise) seen as |
429 | by the kernel at all. Mice are (device-wise) seen as |
| 431 | <path>/dev/input/mouse0</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path> if you want to |
430 | <path>/dev/input/mouse0</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path> if you want to |
| 432 | use several mice). In some cases <path>/dev/psaux</path> is used. In either |
431 | use several mice). In some cases <path>/dev/psaux</path> is used. In either |
| 433 | case you can check if the devices do represent |
432 | case you can check if the devices do represent |
| 434 | your mouse by checking the output of those files when you move your mouse. You |
433 | your mouse by checking the output of those files when you move your mouse. You |
| 435 | will usually see some junk on your screen. To end the session press |
434 | will usually see some junk on your screen. To end the session press |
| 436 | <c>Ctrl-C</c>. |
435 | <c>Ctrl-C</c>. |
| 437 | </p> |
436 | </p> |
| … | |
… | |
| 444 | <p> |
443 | <p> |
| 445 | If your mouse isn't detected, verify if all the necessary modules are loaded. |
444 | If your mouse isn't detected, verify if all the necessary modules are loaded. |
| 446 | </p> |
445 | </p> |
| 447 | |
446 | |
| 448 | <p> |
447 | <p> |
| 449 | If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate |
448 | If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate |
| 450 | <e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other |
449 | <e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other |
| 451 | options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used -- most |
450 | options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used -- most |
| 452 | users will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the |
451 | users will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the |
| 453 | mousewheel (if applicable) to be used). |
452 | mousewheel (if applicable) to be used). |
| 454 | </p> |
453 | </p> |
| … | |
… | |
| 479 | <section> |
478 | <section> |
| 480 | <title>Creating and Tweaking xorg.conf</title> |
479 | <title>Creating and Tweaking xorg.conf</title> |
| 481 | <body> |
480 | <body> |
| 482 | |
481 | |
| 483 | <p> |
482 | <p> |
| 484 | First of all, <c>man 5 xorg.conf</c> provides a quick yet complete reference |
483 | First of all, <c>man xorg.conf</c> provides a quick yet complete reference |
| 485 | about the syntaxis used by the configuration file. Be sure to have it open on a |
484 | about the syntax used by the configuration file. Be sure to have it open on a |
| 486 | terminal near you when you edit your configuration file! |
485 | terminal near you when you edit your configuration file! |
| 487 | </p> |
486 | </p> |
| 488 | |
487 | |
| 489 | <p> |
488 | <p> |
| 490 | A second point of resources on your system is the |
489 | Also, be sure to look at <path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf.example</path>; you may wish |
| 491 | <path>/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/doc</path> directory with various <path>README</path>s |
490 | to copy this and use it as a foundation for writing your own |
| 492 | for individual graphical chipsets. |
491 | <path>xorg.conf</path>. |
|
|
492 | </p> |
|
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493 | |
|
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494 | <p> |
|
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495 | You may find the X.org <uri link="http://www.x.org/wiki/FAQ">FAQ</uri> provided |
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|
496 | on their website, in addition to their other documentation. |
| 493 | </p> |
497 | </p> |
| 494 | |
498 | |
| 495 | <p> |
499 | <p> |
| 496 | There are also many online resources on editing <path>xorg.conf</path>. We only |
500 | There are also many online resources on editing <path>xorg.conf</path>. We only |
| 497 | list few of them here, be sure to <uri link="http://www.google.com">Google</uri> |
501 | list few of them here, be sure to <uri link="http://www.google.com">Google</uri> |
| … | |
… | |
| 518 | <section> |
522 | <section> |
| 519 | <title>Other resources</title> |
523 | <title>Other resources</title> |
| 520 | <body> |
524 | <body> |
| 521 | |
525 | |
| 522 | <p> |
526 | <p> |
| 523 | If you want to update your system from the old monolithic Xorg to the newer, |
527 | More information about installing and configuring various graphical desktop |
| 524 | modular Xorg 7, you should refer to the <uri |
528 | environments and applications can be found in the <uri |
| 525 | link="/proj/en/desktop/x/x11/modular-x-howto.xml">Migrating to Modular X |
529 | link="/doc/en/?catid=desktop">Gentoo Desktop Documentation Resources</uri> |
| 526 | HOWTO</uri>. |
530 | section of our documentation. |
| 527 | </p> |
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| 528 | |
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| 529 | <p> |
|
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| 530 | More information about configuring different packages to work in X environment |
|
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| 531 | can be found in the <uri link="/doc/en/?catid=desktop">Gentoo Desktop |
|
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| 532 | Documentation Resources</uri> section of our documentation. |
|
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| 533 | </p> |
531 | </p> |
| 534 | |
532 | |
| 535 | </body> |
533 | </body> |
| 536 | </section> |
534 | </section> |
| 537 | </chapter> |
535 | </chapter> |
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