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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 1.8 2005/02/14 09:26:19 swift Exp $ -->	3	<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/xorg-config.xml,v 1.21 2007/02/17 19:12:14 nightmorph 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>1.7</version>	25	<version>1.15</version>
26	<date>2005-02-07</date>	26	<date>2007-02-17</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. Use <c>radeon</c> in case you have an
		113	ATI card for the same. <c>VIDEO_CARDS</c> may contain more than one driver, in
		114	this case list of them should be separated with spaces.
		115	</p>
		116
		117	<p>
		118	The second variable is <c>INPUT_DEVICES</c> and is used to determine which
		119	drivers are to be built for input devices. In most cases setting it to
		120	<c>keyboard mouse</c> should work just fine.
		121	</p>
		122
		123	<p>
		124	Now you should decide which drivers you will use and add necessary settings to
		125	the <path>/etc/make.conf</path> file:
		126	</p>
		127
		128	<pre caption="Sample make.conf entries">
		129	<comment>(For mouse and keyboard support)</comment>
		130	INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard mouse"
		131	<comment>(For Nvidia cards)</comment>
		132	VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia"
		133	<comment>(OR, for ATI Radeon cards)</comment>
		134	VIDEO_CARDS="fglrx"
		135	</pre>
		136
		137	<p>
		138	More instructions on how to configure Nvidia and ATI cards can be found in
		139	<uri link="/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml">Gentoo Linux nVidia Guide</uri> and in
		140	<uri link="/doc/en/ati-faq.xml">Gentoo Linux ATI FAQ</uri>. If you don't know
		141	which drivers you should choose, refer to these guides for more information.
		142	</p>
		143
		144	<note>
		145	If the suggested settings don't work for you, you should run <c>emerge -pv
		146	xorg-x11</c>, check all the options available and choose those which
		147	apply to your system. In different versions of Xorg and on different
		148	architectures displaying these variables can be done with <c>emerge -pv
		149	xorg-server</c> command rather than the one above. The example is for x86
		150	architecture and xorg-x11-7.0.
		151	</note>
		152
		153	<pre caption="Displaying all the driver options available">
		154	# <i>emerge -pv xorg-x11</i>
		155
		156	These are the packages that would be merged, in order:
		157
		158	Calculating dependencies... done!
		159	[ebuild R ] x11-base/xorg-x11-7.0-r1 USE="-3dfx" INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard
		160	mouse -acecad -aiptek -calcomp -citron -digitaledge -dmc -dynapro -elo2300
		161	-elographics -evdev -fpit -hyperpen -jamstudio -joystick -magellan -magictouch
		162	-microtouch -mutouch -palmax -penmount -spaceorb -summa -synaptics -tek4957
		163	-ur98 -vmmouse -void -wacom" VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia -apm -ark -chips -cirrus
		164	-cyrix -dummy -fbdev -fglrx -glint -i128 -i740 -i810 -imstt -mach64 -mga
		165	-neomagic -nsc -nv -r128 -radeon -rendition -s3 -s3virge -savage -siliconmotion
		166	-sis -sisusb -tdfx -tga -trident -tseng -v4l -vesa -vga -via -vmware -voodoo" 0
		167	kB
		168	</pre>
		169
		170	<p>
		171	After setting all the necessary variables you can install the Xorg package.
		172	</p>
		173
99	<pre caption="Installing Xorg">	174	<pre caption="Installing Xorg">
100	# <i>emerge xorg-x11</i>	175	# <i>emerge xorg-x11</i>
101	</pre>	176	</pre>
102		177
103	<p>	178	<p>
104	When the installation is finished, you might need to reinitialise some	179	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	180	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	181	by <c>source /etc/profile</c> and you're all set.
107	in any way.
108	</p>	182	</p>
109		183
110	<pre caption="Reinitialising the environment variables">	184	<pre caption="Re-initialising the environment variables">
111	# <i>env-update</i>	185	# <i>env-update</i>
112	# <i>source /etc/profile</i>	186	# <i>source /etc/profile</i>
113	</pre>	187	</pre>
114		188
115	</body>	189	</body>
…		…
167	<pre caption="Testing the xorg.conf.new file">	241	<pre caption="Testing the xorg.conf.new file">
168	# <i>X -config /root/xorg.conf.new</i>	242	# <i>X -config /root/xorg.conf.new</i>
169	</pre>	243	</pre>
170		244
171	<p>	245	<p>
172	If all goes well, you should see an ugly, loathsome, repulsive, deformed	246	If all goes well, you should see a simple black and white pattern. Verify if
173	window manager called <c>twm</c>, probably the smallest window manager	247	your mouse works correctly and if the resolution is good. If you received errors
174	available. Try moving your mouse and see if your keyboard and such is working.	248	about "/dev/mouse", try changing your mouse device to <c>/dev/input/mice</c> in
175	In the next section we will optimize our <path>xorg.conf</path> so it fits your	249	the "InputDevice" section of <path>xorg.conf</path>. You might not be able to
176	hardware. Now go into one of the terminals you see on your screen and type in
177	<c>exit</c> (or press Ctrl-D) until Xorg shuts down. If you are unable to
178	use your mouse to focus the terminals, you can also press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to
179	kill the X server.
180	</p>
181
182	<p>
183	If <c>twm</c> doesn't load, don't worry - it will once you'll start the X server
184	through the regular <c>startx</c> command. Verify if your mouse works correctly
185	and if the resolution is good. You might not be able to deduce the exact
186	resolution, but you should be able to see if it's too low. You can exit any time	250	deduce the exact resolution, but you should be able to see if it's too low. You
187	by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.	251	can exit any time by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.
188	</p>	252	</p>
189		253
190	</body>	254	</body>
191	</section>	255	</section>
192	<section>	256	<section>
…		…
201		265
202	<pre caption="Semi-Automatic Generation of xorg.conf">	266	<pre caption="Semi-Automatic Generation of xorg.conf">
203	# <i>xorgconfig</i>	267	# <i>xorgconfig</i>
204	</pre>	268	</pre>
205		269
		270	<p>
		271	Another tool, also provided by Xorg, is <c>xorgcfg</c>, which will first
		272	attempt to run <c>Xorg -configure</c> and then start the X server for more
		273	final tweaking.
		274	</p>
		275
		276	<pre caption="Using xorgcfg">
		277	# <i>xorgcfg</i>
		278	<comment>(In case X crashes or the configuration fails, try:)</comment>
		279	# <i>xorgcfg -textmode</i>
		280	</pre>
		281
		282	</body>
		283	</section>
		284	<section>
		285	<title>Copying over xorg.conf</title>
		286	<body>
		287
		288	<p>
		289	Let us copy over the <path>xorg.conf.new</path> to
		290	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> now, so we won't have to continuously run
		291	<c>X -config</c> -- typing just <c>X</c> or <c>startx</c> is far more easy :)
		292	</p>
		293
		294	<pre caption="Copying over xorg.conf">
		295	# <i>cp /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf</i>
		296	</pre>
		297
		298	</body>
		299	</section>
		300	<section id="using_startx">
		301	<title>Using startx</title>
		302	<body>
		303
		304	<p>
		305	Now try <c>startx</c> to start up your X server. <c>startx</c> is a script
		306	that executes an <e>X session</e>, that is, it starts the X servers and some
		307	graphical applications on top of it. It decides which applications to run
		308	using the following logic:
		309	</p>
		310
		311	<ul>
		312	<li>
		313	If a file named <path>.xinitrc</path> exists in the home directory, it will
		314	execute the commands listed there.
		315	</li>
		316	<li>
		317	Otherwise, it will read the value of the XSESSION variable and will execute
		318	one of the sessions available in <path>/etc/X11/Sessions/</path>
		319	accordingly (you can set the value of XSESSION in <path>/etc/rc.conf</path>
		320	to make it a default for all the users on the system).
		321	</li>
		322	<li>
		323	If all of the above fail, it will fall back to a simple window manager,
		324	usually <c>twm</c>.
		325	</li>
		326	</ul>
		327
		328	<pre caption="Starting X">
		329	# <i>startx</i>
		330	</pre>
		331
		332	<p>
		333	If you see an ugly, loathsome, repulsive, deformed window manager, that's
		334	<c>twm</c>. To finish the twm session, type in <c>exit</c> or Ctrl-D in the
		335	upcoming xterms. You can also kill the X session using the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
		336	combination. This will however make X exit disgracefully -- something that you
		337	might not always want. It doesn't hurt though :)
		338	</p>
		339
206	</body>	340	</body>
207	</section>	341	</section>
208	</chapter>	342	</chapter>
209	<chapter>	343	<chapter>
210	<title>Tweaking xorg.conf</title>	344	<title>Tweaking xorg.conf</title>
211	<section>	345	<section>
212	<title>Copying over xorg.conf</title>
213	<body>
214
215	<p>
216	Let us first copy over the <path>xorg.conf.new</path> to
217	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> so we won't have to continuously run <c>Xorg
218	-config</c> -- typing <c>startx</c> is far more easy :)
219	</p>
220
221	<pre caption="Copying over xorg.conf">
222	# <i>cp /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf</i>
223	</pre>
224
225	<p>
226	Now run <c>startx</c> to start up your X server. It will use the freshly copied
227	file as its configuration file. To finish the X session, type in <c>exit</c> or
228	Ctrl-D in the upcoming xterms. You can also kill the X session using the
229	Ctrl-Alt-Backspace combination. This will however make X exit disgracefully -
230	something that you might not always want. It doesn't hurt though :)
231	</p>
232
233	<pre caption="Starting X">
234	# <i>startx</i>
235	</pre>
236
237	</body>
238	</section>
239	<section>
240	<title>Setting your Resolution</title>	346	<title>Setting your Resolution</title>
241	<body>	347	<body>
242		348
243	<p>	349	<p>
244	If you feel that the screen resolution is wrong, you will need to check two	350	If you feel that the screen resolution is wrong, you will need to check two
245	sections in your configuration. First of all, you have the <e>Screen</e> section	351	sections in your configuration. First of all, you have the <e>Screen</e> section
246	which lists the resolutions - if any - that your X server will run at. By	352	which lists the resolutions, if any that your X server will run at. By
247	default, this section might not list any resolutions at all. If this is the	353	default, this section might not list any resolutions at all. If this is the
248	case, Xorg will estimate the resolutions based on the information in the	354	case, Xorg will estimate the resolutions based on the information in the
249	second section, <e>Monitor</e>.	355	second section, <e>Monitor</e>.
250	</p>	356	</p>
251		357
…		…
258	use a tool that searches for your monitor's specs, such as	364	use a tool that searches for your monitor's specs, such as
259	<c>sys-apps/ddcxinfo-knoppix</c>.	365	<c>sys-apps/ddcxinfo-knoppix</c>.
260	</p>	366	</p>
261		367
262	<warn>	368	<warn>
263	Do <b>not</b> "just" change the values of these two monitor-related variables	369	Do <b>not</b> "just" change the values of these two monitor related variables
264	without consulting the technical specifications of your monitor. Setting	370	without consulting the technical specifications of your monitor. Setting
265	incorrect values lead to out-of-sync errors at best and smoked up screens at	371	incorrect values lead to out-of-sync errors at best and smoked up screens at
266	worst.	372	worst.
267	</warn>	373	</warn>
268		374
269	<p>	375	<p>
270	Now let us change the resolutions. In the next example from	376	Now let us change the resolutions. In the next example from
271	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> we add the <c>Modes</c> lines and the	377	<path>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</path> we add the <c>Modes</c> lines and the
272	<c>DefaultDepth</c> so that our X server starts with 24 bits at 1024x768 by	378	<c>DefaultDepth</c> so that our X server starts with 24 bits at 1024x768 by
273	default. Don't mind the given strings - they are examples and will most likely	379	default. Don't mind the given strings -- they are examples and will most likely
274	differ from the settings on your system.	380	differ from the settings on your system.
275	</p>	381	</p>
276		382
277	<pre caption="Changing the Screen section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf">	383	<pre caption="Changing the Screen section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf">
278	Section "Screen"	384	Section "Screen"
…		…
322	<title>Configuring your Mouse</title>	428	<title>Configuring your Mouse</title>
323	<body>	429	<body>
324		430
325	<p>	431	<p>
326	If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected	432	If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected
327	by the kernel at all. PS/2 mice are (device-wise) seen as	433	by the kernel at all. Mice are (device-wise) seen as
328	<path>/dev/psaux</path>. Other mice (like USBs) are seen as
329	<path>/dev/input</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path>). In either case you	434	<path>/dev/input/mouse0</path> (or <path>/dev/input/mice</path> if you want to
330	can check if the devices do represent your mouse by checking the output of those	435	use several mice). In some cases <path>/dev/psaux</path> is used. In either
331	files when you move your mouse. To end the session press <c>Ctrl-C</c>.	436	case you can check if the devices do represent
		437	your mouse by checking the output of those files when you move your mouse. You
		438	will usually see some junk on your screen. To end the session press
		439	<c>Ctrl-C</c>.
332	</p>	440	</p>
333		441
334	<pre caption="Checking the device files">	442	<pre caption="Checking the device files">
335	# <i>cat /dev/input</i>	443	# <i>cat /dev/input/mouse0</i>
336	<comment>(Don't forget to press Ctrl-C to end this)</comment>	444	<comment>(Don't forget to press Ctrl-C to end this)</comment>
337	</pre>	445	</pre>
338		446
339	<p>	447	<p>
340	If your mouse isn't detected, verify if all the necessary modules are loaded.	448	If your mouse isn't detected, verify if all the necessary modules are loaded.
341	</p>	449	</p>
342		450
343	<p>	451	<p>
344	If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate	452	If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate
345	<e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other	453	<e>InputDevice</e> section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other
346	options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used - most users	454	options: <c>Protocol</c> (which lists the mouse protocol to be used -- most
347	will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the	455	users will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and <c>ZAxisMapping</c> (which allows for the
348	mousewheel (if applicable) to be used).	456	mousewheel (if applicable) to be used).
349	</p>	457	</p>
350		458
351	<pre caption="Changing the mouse settings in Xorg">	459	<pre caption="Changing the mouse settings in Xorg">
352	Section "InputDevice"	460	Section "InputDevice"
353	Identifier "TouchPad Mouse"	461	Identifier "TouchPad Mouse"
354	Driver "mouse"	462	Driver "mouse"
355	Option "CorePointer"	463	Option "CorePointer"
356	<i>Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"</i>	464	<i>Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0"</i>
357	<i>Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"</i>	465	<i>Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"</i>
358	<i>Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"</i>	466	<i>Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"</i>
359	EndSection	467	EndSection
360	</pre>	468	</pre>
361		469
…		…
408	</li>	516	</li>
409	</ul>	517	</ul>
410		518
411	</body>	519	</body>
412	</section>	520	</section>
		521	<section>
		522	<title>Other resources</title>
		523	<body>
		524
		525	<p>
		526	If you want to update your system from the old monolithic Xorg to the newer,
		527	modular Xorg 7, you should refer to the <uri
		528	link="/proj/en/desktop/x/x11/modular-x-howto.xml">Migrating to Modular X
		529	HOWTO</uri>.
		530	</p>
		531
		532	<p>
		533	More information about configuring different packages to work in X environment
		534	can be found in the <uri link="/doc/en/?catid=desktop">Gentoo Desktop
		535	Documentation Resources</uri> section of our documentation.
		536	</p>
		537
		538	</body>
		539	</section>
413	</chapter>	540	</chapter>
414	</guide>	541	</guide>

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