Table of Contents

Name

XFree86 - X11R6 X server

Synopsis

XFree86 [:display] [option ...]

Description

XFree86 is an X servers for UNIX-like OSs on Intel x86 and other platforms. This work is derived from X386 1.2 which was contributed to X11R5 by Snitily Graphics Consulting Service. The current XFree86 release is based on X11R6.3. The XFree86 X server architecture was redesigned for the 4.0 release, and it includes among other things a loadable module system donated by Metro Link, Inc.

Configurations

XFree86 operates under the following operating systems:

-- SVR3.2: SCO 3.2.2, 3.2.4, ISC 3.x, 4.x
-- SVR4.0: ESIX, Microport, Dell, UHC, Consensys, MST, ISC, AT&T, NCR
-- SVR4.2: Consensys, Univel (UnixWare)
-- Solaris (x86) 2.5, 2.6
-- FreeBSD 2.1.x, 2.2.x, 3.0-current
-- NetBSD 1.2, 1.3
-- OpenBSD
-- Linux
-- LynxOS AT versions 2.2.1, 2.3.0 and 2.4.0, LynxOS microSPARC 2.4.0

Network Connections

XFree86 supports connections made using the following reliable byte-streams:
Local
XFree86 supports local connections via Streams pipe via various mechanisms, using the following paths (n represents the display number): 


/dev/X/server.n (SVR3 and SVR4)
/dev/X/Nserver.n (SVR4)
/dev/XnS and /dev/XnR (SCO SVR3)

On SVR4.0.4, if the Advanced Compatibility Package is installed, and in SVR4.2, XFree86 supports local connections from clients for SCO XSight/ODT, and (with modifications to the binary) clients for ISC SVR3.

Unix Domain
XFree86 uses /tmp/.X11-unix/Xn as the filename for the socket, where n is the display number.
TCP/IP
XFree86 listens on port htons(6000+n), where n is the display number.

Environment Variables

For operating systems that support local connections other than Unix Domain sockets (SVR3 and SVR4), there is a compiled-in list specifying the order in which local connections should be attempted. This list can be overridden by the XLOCAL environment variable described below. If the display name indicates a best-choice connection should be made (e.g. :0.0), each connection mechanism is tried until a connection succeeds or no more mechanisms are available. Note: for these OSs, the Unix Domain socket connection is treated differently from the other local connection types. To use it the connection must be made to unix:0.0.

The XLOCAL environment variable should contain a list of one more more of the following: 


NAMED
PTS
SCO
ISC

which represent SVR4 Named Streams pipe, Old-style USL Streams pipe, SCO XSight Streams pipe, and ISC Streams pipe, respectively. You can select a single mechanism (e.g. XLOCAL=NAMED), or an ordered list (e.g. XLOCAL="NAMED:PTS:SCO"). This variable overrides the compiled-in defaults. For SVR4 it is recommended that NAMED be the first preference connection. The default setting is PTS:NAMED:ISC:SCO.

To globally override the compiled-in defaults, you should define (and export if using sh or ksh) XLOCAL globally. If you use startx/xinit, the definition should be at the top of your .xinitrc file. If you use xdm, the definitions should be early on in the <XRoot>/lib/X11/xdm/Xsession script.

Options

In addition to the normal server options described in the Xserver(1) manual page, XFree86 accepts the following command line switches:
vtXX
XX specifies the Virtual Terminal device number which XFree86 will use. Without this option, XFree86 will pick the first available Virtual Terminal that it can locate. This option applies only to SVR3, SVR4, Linux, and BSD OSs with the `syscons' or `pcvt' driver.
-crt /dev/ttyXX
SCO only. This is the same as the vt option, and is provided for compatibility with the native SCO X server.
-probeonly
Causes the server to exit after the device probing stage. The XF86Config file is still used when this option is given, so information that can be auto-detected should be commented out.
-quiet
Suppress most informational messages at startup.
-bpp n
No longer supported. Use -depth to set the color depth, and use -fbbpp if you really need to force a non-default framebuffer (hardware) pixel format.
-depth n
Sets the default color depth. Legal values are 8, 15, 16, and 24. Not all servers support all values.
-fbbpp n
Sets the number of framebuffer bits per pixel. You should only set this if you're sure it's necessary; normally the server can deduce the correct value from -depth above. Useful if you want to run a depth 24 configuration with a 24 bpp framebuffer rather than the (possibly default) 32 bpp framebuffer. Legal values are 8, 16, 24, 32. Not all servers support all values.
-weight nnn
Set RGB weighting at 16 bpp. The default is 565. This applies only to those servers which support 16 bpp.
-flipPixels
Swap the default values for the black and white pixels.
-disableVidMode
Disable the the parts of the VidMode extension used by the xvidtune client that can be used to change the video modes.
-allowNonLocalXvidtune
Allow the xvidtune client to connect from another host. By default non-local connections are not allowed.
-disableModInDev
Disable dynamic modification of input device settings.
-allowNonLocalModInDev
Allow changes to keyboard and mouse settings from non-local clients. By default, connections from non-local clients are not allowed to do this.
-allowMouseOpenFail
Allow the server to start up even if the mouse device can't be opened or initialised.
-gamma value
Set the gamma correction. value must be between 0.1 and 10. The default is 1.0 This value is applied equally to the R, G and B values. Not all servers support this.
-rgamma value
Set the red gamma correction. value must be between 0.1 and 10. The default is 1.0 Not all servers support this.
-ggamma value
Set the green gamma correction. value must be between 0.1 and 10. The default is 1.0 Not all servers support this.
-bgamma value
Set the blue gamma correction. value must be between 0.1 and 10. The default is 1.0 Not all servers support this.
-showconfig
Print out the server version, patchlevel, and a list of screen drivers configured in the server.
-verbose
Multiple occurrences of this flag increase the amount of information printed on stderr (more than the default).
-version
Same as -showconfig.
-xf86config file
Read the server configuration from file. This option will work for any file when the server is run as root (i.e, with real-uid 0), or for files relative to a directory in the config search path for all other users.
-keeptty
Prevent the server from detaching its initial controlling terminal. This option is only useful when debugging the server.

Keyboard

Multiple key presses recognized directly by XFree86 are:
Ctrl+Alt+Backspace
Immediately kills the server -- no questions asked. (Can be disabled by specifying "DontZap" in the ServerFlags section of the XF86Config file.)
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad-Plus
Change video mode to next one specified in the configuration file, (increasing video resolution order).
Ctrl+Alt+Keypad-Minus
Change video mode to previous one specified in the configuration file, (decreasing video resolution order).
Ctrl+Alt+F1...F12
For BSD systems using the syscons driver and Linux, these keystroke combinations are used to switch to Virtual Console 1 through 12.

Setup

XFree86 uses a configuration file called XF86Config for its initial setup. Refer to the XF86Config(4/5) manual page for more information.

Files

/etc/XF86Config
Server configuration file
/etc/X11/XF86Config
Server configuration file
/usr/X11R6/etc/XF86Config
Server configuration file
<XRoot>/lib/X11/XF86Config.hostname
Server configuration file
<XRoot>/lib/X11/XF86Config
Server configuration file
<XRoot>/bin/*
Client binaries
<XRoot>/include/*
Header files
<XRoot>/lib/*
Libraries
<XRoot>/lib/X11/fonts/*
Fonts
<XRoot>/lib/X11/rgb.txt
Color names to RGB mapping
<XRoot>/lib/X11/XErrorDB
Client error message database
<XRoot>/lib/X11/app-defaults/*
Client resource specifications
<XRoot>/man/man?/*
Manual pages
/etc/Xn.hosts
Initial access control list for display n

Note: <XRoot> refers to the root of the X11 install tree.

See Also

X(7) , Xserver(1) , xdm(1) , xinit(1) , XF86Config(5) , xf86config(1) , xf86cfg(1) , xvidtune(1)

Authors

For X11R5, XF86 1.2 was provided by:

Thomas Roell, [email protected]
TU-Muenchen: Server and SVR4 stuff
Mark W. Snitily, [email protected]
SGCS: SVR3 support, X Consortium Sponsor

... and many more people out there on the net who helped with ideas and
bug-fixes.

XFree86 was integrated into X11R6 by the following team: 


Stuart Anderson    [email protected]
Doug Anson         [email protected]
Gertjan Akkerman   [email protected]
Mike Bernson       [email protected]
Robin Cutshaw      [email protected]
David Dawes        [email protected]
Marc Evans         [email protected]
Pascal Haible      [email protected]
Matthieu Herrb     [email protected]
Dirk Hohndel       [email protected]
David Holland      [email protected]
Alan Hourihane     [email protected]
Jeffrey Hsu        [email protected]
Glenn Lai          [email protected]
Ted Lemon          [email protected]
Rich Murphey       [email protected]
Hans Nasten        [email protected]
Mark Snitily       [email protected]
Randy Terbush      [email protected]
Jon Tombs          [email protected]
Kees Verstoep      [email protected]
Paul Vixie         [email protected]
Mark Weaver        [email protected]
David Wexelblat    [email protected]
Philip Wheatley    [email protected]
Thomas Wolfram     [email protected]
Orest Zborowski    [email protected]

The XFree86 enhancement package was provided by:

David Dawes, [email protected]
Release coordination, administration of FTP repository and mailing lists. Source tree management and integration, accelerated server integration, fixing, and coding.
Glenn Lai, [email protected]
The SpeedUp code for ET4000 based SVGA cards, and ET4000/W32 accelerated server.
Jim Tsillas, [email protected]
Many server speedups from the fX386 series of enhancements.
David Wexelblat, [email protected]
Integration of the fX386 code into the default server, many driver fixes, and driver documentation, assembly of the VGA card/monitor database, development of the generic video mode listing. Accelerated server integration, fixing, and coding.
Dirk Hohndel, [email protected]
Linux shared libraries and release coordination. Accelerated server integration and fixing. Generic administrivia and documentation.

Amancio Hasty Jr., [email protected]
Porting to 386BSD version 0.1 and XS3 development.
Rich Murphey, [email protected]
Ported to 386BSD version 0.1 based on the original port by Pace Willison. Support for 386BSD, FreeBSD, and NetBSD.
Robert Baron, [email protected]
Ported to Mach.
Orest Zborowski, [email protected]
Ported to Linux.
Doug Anson, [email protected]
Ported to Solaris x86.
David Holland, [email protected]
Ported to Solaris x86.
David McCullough, [email protected]
Ported to SCO SVR3.
Michael Rohleder, [email protected]
Ported to ISC SVR3.
Kees Verstoep, [email protected]
Ported to Amoeba based on Leendert van Doorn's original Amoeba port of X11R5.
Marc Evans, [email protected]
Ported to OSF/1.
Philip Homburg, [email protected]
Ported to Minix-386vm.
Thomas Mueller, [email protected]
Ported to LynxOS.
Jon Tombs, [email protected]
S3 server and accelerated server coordination.
Harald Koenig, [email protected]
S3 server development.
Bernhard Bender, [email protected]
S3 server development.
Kevin Martin, [email protected]
Overall work on the base accelerated servers (ATI and 8514/A), and Mach64 server.
Rik Faith, [email protected]
Overall work on the base accelerated servers (ATI and 8514/A).
Tiago Gons, [email protected]
Mach8 and 8514/A server development
Hans Nasten, [email protected]
Mach8, 8514/A, and S3 server development and BSD/386 support
Mike Bernson, [email protected]
Mach32 server development.
Mark Weaver, [email protected]
Mach32 server development.
Craig Groeschel, [email protected]
Mach32 server development.
Henry Worth, [email protected]
AGX server.
Erik Nygren, [email protected]
P9000 server.
Harry Langenbacher [email protected]
P9000 server.
Chris Mason, [email protected]
P9000 server.
Henrik Harmsen [email protected]
P9000 server.
Simon Cooper, [email protected]
Cirrus accelerated code (based on work by Bill Reynolds).
Harm Hanemaayer, [email protected]
Cirrus accelerated code, and ARK driver.
Thomas Zerucha, [email protected]
Support for Cirrus CL-GD7543.
Leon Bottou, [email protected]
ARK driver.
Mike Tierney, [email protected]
WD accelerated code.
Bill Conn, [email protected]
WD accelerated code.
Brad Bosch, [email protected]
WD 90C24A support.
Alan Hourihane, [email protected]
Trident SVGA driver, SiS SVGA driver and DEC 21030 server.
Marc Aurele La France, [email protected]
ATI SVGA driver
Steve Goldman, [email protected]
Oak 067/077 SVGA driver.
Jorge Delgado, [email protected]
Oak SVGA driver, and 087 accelerated code.
Bill Conn, [email protected]
WD accelerated code.
Paolo Severini, [email protected]
AL2101 SVGA driver
Ching-Tai Chiu, [email protected]
Avance Logic ALI SVGA driver
Manfred Brands, [email protected]
Cirrus 64xx SVGA driver
Randy Hendry, [email protected]
Cirrus 6440 support in the cl64xx SVGA driver
Frank Dikker, [email protected]
MX SVGA driver
Regis Cridlig, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
Jon Block, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
Mike Hollick, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
Nozomi Ytow
Chips & Technologies driver
Egbert Eich, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
David Bateman, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
Xavier Ducoin, [email protected]
Chips & Technologies driver
Peter Trattler, [email protected]
RealTek SVGA driver
Craig Struble, [email protected]
Video7 SVGA driver
Gertjan Akkerman, [email protected]
16 colour VGA server, and XF86Config parser.
Davor Matic, [email protected]
Hercules driver.
Pascal Haible, [email protected]
Banked monochrome VGA support, Hercules support, and mono frame buffer support for dumb monochrome devices
Martin Schaller,
Geert Uytterhoeven,[email protected]
Linux/m68k Frame Buffer Device driver
Andreas Schwab, [email protected]
Linux/m68k Frame Buffer Device driver
Guenther Kelleter, [email protected]
Linux/m68k Frame Buffer Device driver
Frederic Lepied, [email protected]
XInput extension integration. Wacom, joystick and extended mouse drivers.
Patrick Lecoanet, [email protected]
Elographics touchscreen driver.
Steven Lang, [email protected]
SummaSketch tablet driver.

... and many more people out there on the net who helped with beta-testing
this enhancement.

XFree86 source is available from the FTP server ftp.XFree86.org, among others. Send email to [email protected] for details.