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.

XFree86 3.1 and later releases uses a new configuration file format. Consult the XF86Config man page and the general INSTALL file for instructions.

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.

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.

You'll need info on your hardware:

Your mouse type, baud rate and it's /dev entry.
The video card's chipset (e.g. ET4000, S3, etc).
Your monitor's sync frequencies.

The easiest way to find which device your mouse is plugged into is to use `cat' or `kermit' to look at the output of the mouse. Connect to it and just make sure that it generates output when the mouse is moved or clicked:

  % cat < /dev/tty00

If you can't find the right mouse device then use `dmesg|grep com' to get a list of devices that were detected upon booting:

  % dmesg|grep com
  com0 at isa0 iobase 0x3f8 irq 4

com0 is the hardware port used for /dev/tty00 and com1 is /dev/tty01. If you plan to fine tune the screen size or position on your monitor you'll need the specs for sync frequencies from your monitor's manual.

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