5 Configuring X for Your Hardware

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The XF86Config file tells the X server what kind of monitor, video card and mouse you have. You must create it to tell the server what specific hardware you have.

You'll need info on your hardware:

XFree86 3.1 and later releases uses a new configuration file format.

The recommended way to generate an XF86Config file is to use the xf86config utility. Also, there is a sample file installed as /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.eg, which can be used as a starting point.

For details about the XF86Config file format, refer to the XF86Config(4/5) manual page.

In order to protect your hardware from damage, the server will no longer read XF86Config files from a user's home directory, but requires that it be in /etc/XF86Config, /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.hostname or /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.

Once you've set up a XF86Config file, you can fine tune the video modes with the xvidtune utility.

If you have a Xconfig file for XFree86 2.x, use reconfig to translate part of it into the new format:

   # reconfig <Xconfig >XF86Config
and complete the rest according to the XF86Config man page and the XF86Config.sample file as a template.

If your mouse does not work try using kermit or tip to connect to the mouse serial port and verify that it does indeed generate characters.

5.1 Configuring a PS/2 mouse for XFree86 on NetBSD

The NetBSD pms mouse driver handles PS/2 style mice as Busmouse. Specify the protocol `busmouse' in the mouse section of your XF86Config file if you're using a PS/2 mouse.

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