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diff --git a/chapter_07.xml b/chapter_07.xml index 35c7bc1..4bb9c3c 100644 --- a/chapter_07.xml +++ b/chapter_07.xml @@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ resounding "no". There are many parts to a GUI, but X is the most fundamental. X is that application that receives input from the mouse, keyboard, and possibly other devices. X is that application that tells the graphics card what to do. In short, X is the application that talks -to your computer's hardware from graphical purposes; all other +to your computer's hardware for graphical purposes; all other graphical applications simply talk to X. </para> <para> Let's stop for a moment and talk about nomenclature. X is just one of a -dozen names that you may encounter. It is also called X11, the X Window +dozen names that you may encounter. It is also called X11, xorg, the X Window System, X Window, X11R6, X Version 11, and several others. Whatever you hear it called, simply understand that the speakers are referring to X. @@ -47,68 +47,65 @@ to X. <title>Configuring the X Server</title> <para> -As powerful as Slackware Linux is, configuring X can be daunting and -is often one of the first real challenges a new user faces. Don't be -overly concerned if you find this a bit difficult. While many changes -have been made over the years that make this much easier, there are -still computers out there that don't properly auto-detect, or you'll -wish to make some change to some setting and it might not be immediately -apparent what to do. Just remember that when I started using X, it was -far more primitive than it is today, took far more work to configure, -and often crashed without telling the user what was wrong. If I and -thousands of others got this working back then, you can do it today. +Once upon a time, configuring X was a difficult and painful process +that caused the magic smoke to come gushing out of hundreds of +monitors. Today X is a lot more user friendly. In fact, most users will +not need to configure X at all, Slackware will simply figure out all +the proper settings on its own. There are, however, still some +computers that X can't properly auto-configure and will need a little +bit of work on your part. </para> <para> +Once upon a time, the X configuration file was located at +<filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</filename>, and if you create a file +there, X will honor whatever settings you place within it. Fortunately, with <application>X.Org 1.6.3</application> an <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</filename> does not even need to be -present for <application>X</application> to attempt a working display, -further, Slackware includes a default configuration file that works -for most computers by using the VESA standard. This offers only the -most basic functions and may not allow your graphics card to operate at -its full potential. You may be limited to low resolutions, fewer -colors, and <application>X</application> will be slower. Still, this is -an option for users, particularly those who only want to occassionally -run <application>X</application>. You can try it out now simply by -running <application>startx</application>(1) from a command prompt. +present for <application>X</application> to generate a working display. +If for whatever reason, you need to make configuration changes to X, +try to avoid using this file; it's antiquated and inflexible. Rather, +the <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/</filename> directory is where you +should put such tweaks. Any file you place within that directory will +be read when X starts up. This allows you to split-up your +configuration into more easily manageable parts. For example, here's +my <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/synaptics.conf</filename> file for my +laptop. </para> -<para> -There are many ways to configure <application>X</application>, but the -easiest is to use <application>xorgsetup</application>. This will attempt -to probe probe your computer's hardware and write a working xorg.conf -file. This option is not garaunteed to work; there are some platforms -that it is known not to work with, and there are probably others as -well. Still, it is worth trying first as it is the quickest and least -complicated for a new user to attempt. -</para> - -<para> -The second most popular way to configure <application>X</application> -on your system is the handy <application>xorgconfig</application>(1). -This application asks you a series of questions about your computer's -hardware and writes out a config file based on your choices. Unless you -know exactly what your hardware is, we recommend that you try -<application>xorgsetup</application> first. -</para> - -<para> -Additionally, the <application>X</application> has flags available to -let <application>X</application> attempt to detect hardware and render -an <filename>xorg.conf.new</filename> that should work with the hardware -present. From a virtual terminal call <command>X -configure</command>, -and the resulting file will be either <filename>/root/xorg.conf.new</filename> -or <filename>$HOME/xorg.conf.new</filename>. Before moving this new -configuration to <filename>/etc/X11/</filename>, it can be tested by -calling <command>X -config /root/xorg.conf.new</command>, then you can -exit this <application>X</application> session with <CTRL>+<ALT>+<Backspace>. -</para> +<screen><prompt>darkstar:~$ </prompt><userinput>cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/synaptics.conf</userinput> +Section "InputDevice" + Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad" + Driver "synaptics" + Option "SendCoreEvents" "true" + Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" + Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" + Option "SHMConfig" "on" + Option "LeftEdge" "100" + Option "RightEdge" "1120" + Option "TopEdge" "50" + Option "BottomEdge" "310" + Option "FingerLow" "25" + Option "FingerHigh" "30" + Option "VertScrollDelta" "20" + Option "HorizScrollDelta" "50" + Option "MinSpeed" "0.79" + Option "MaxSpeed" "0.88" + Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015" + Option "TapButton1" "1" + Option "TapButton2" "2" + Option "TapButton3" "3" + Option "MaxTapMove" "100" + Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0" + Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0" + Option "VertEdgeScroll" "1" + Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "0" +EndSection +</screen> <para> -Lastly, you can manually configure your <application>X</application> -server by modifying <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</filename> with a text -editor. This is not normally a task for the faint of heart, but is -often the easiest way to make minor changes. +By placing such options in individual files, you can easily manage your +X configuration by sections. </para> </section> |