LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

The X Window System

• X is a client-server GUI system. XFree86 is the X implementation used on Linux.

• An X server is software or hardware that renders graphical output on a display device.

• An X client is software whose output is displayed by an X server and is usually managed by a window manager.

• An X window manager is a client that applies frames and controls to other client windows.

Objective 1: Install and Configure X11

Selecting and configuring an X server

• XFree86 configuration depends on the software version, the video chipset in use, and the monitor's capabilities.

• XFree86 can be installed from Linux distribution packages (.rpm, .deb), precompiled binaries, or compiled from source.

• Configuration of XFree86 is done in the XF86Configfile.

• XF86Config contains sections that define input devices, monitors, graphics modes, and so on.

• XF86Config files differ between XFree86 Versions 3.x and 4.x.

X fonts

• The X server uses X fonts to satisfy font requests from X clients.

• Fonts are enumerated either through a static list presented in /etc/X11/XF86Config or through a font server such as xfs.

• xfs is configured using its configuration file, /etc/X11/fs/config.

.Xresources

• X resource settings in the .Xresources file control client program parameters. For example, this line defines a black background for an xterm:

  xterm*background: Black

Objective 2: Setup A Display Manager

xdm

• xdm, the X Display Manager, handles X sessions on physical displays both locally and across the network.

• xdm handles authentication. ...