# The Linux XFree86 HOWTO

## Helmut Geyer, `Helmut.Geyer@iwr.uni-heidelberg.de`

v2.1 , 1. June 1994

This document describes how to obtain, install and configure XFree86[TM] for Linux systems. XFree86 version 2 is an enhanced version of the X Window System version 11 release 5 with support for many versions of UN*X running on Intel[TM] 386/486/Pentium[TM] platforms, including Linux. It supports a great amount of video hardware for these systems and includes many bugfixes beyond the MIT standard release of X. It is intended to help Linux users install and configure XFree86. It covers all versions of XFree86 starting from version 2.0. It is furthermore intended to answer some basic questions about X and programs using X. Please read this file and the referenced documentation files BEFORE installing and starting XFree86. IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, YOU MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR HARDWARE. If you have access to a printer capable of printing DVI or PostScript[TM] documents, you should consider to get those versions of this HOWTO as these provide far more readability by better formatting. A WWW version of this file and many other HOWTOs can be found in the Linux Documentation Project homepage.

## 1. Introduction

#### 1.1 Copyright notice

#### 1.2 Requirements on reading this HOWTO

#### 1.3 Feedback

#### 1.4 New versions

## 2. What are X11 and XFree86?

#### 2.1 The XFree86 Project, Inc.

## 3. Supported Hardware

## 4. Installing XFree86

#### 4.1 Where do I get XFree86 and what do I need to run it?

#### 4.2 How do I compile it myself and where can I get the sources?

## 5. Setting up your XFree86 system

#### 5.1 The Xconfig file

#### 5.2 The .xinitrc file

#### 5.3 The personal X resource file

#### 5.4 Using xdm

#### 5.5 Configuration of the window manager

#### 5.6 Running X

## 6. tinyX - a XFree86 based package for low memory systems

## 7. X related packages

## 8. Compiling programs that use X

## 9. Finding Information on X and XFree86 on the net

## 10. Why should I upgrade my system and how do I do that?

#### 10.1 Upgrading from XFree86 versions before 2.0

#### 10.2 Upgrading from XFree86 2.0

#### 10.3 Upgrading from XFree86 2.1

## Appendix

## 11. Bugs in XFree86

#### 11.1 XFree86 2.0

#### 11.2 XFree86 2.1

#### 11.3 XFree86 2.1.1

## 12. The Future of XFree86

## 13. Some Questions and Answers

## 14. Acknowledgements

## 15. Trademarks