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From: steve@ecf.toronto.edu (Steve Kotsopoulos)
Subject: X on Intel-based Unix Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] (with answers)
Message-ID: <C1sH58.8Ct@ecf.toronto.edu>
Followup-To: poster
Summary: X options for Intel-based Unix (SYSV/386, 386BSD, Linux, Mach)
Sender: steve@ecf.toronto.edu (Steve Kotsopoulos)
Reply-To: steve@ecf.toronto.edu
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1993 21:31:55 GMT
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
Expires: Mon, 1 Mar 1993 05:00:00 GMT
Lines: 545
Archive-name: Intel-Unix-X-faq
Last-modified: 1 Feb 1992
Note: This is a major re-organization (and replacement) of my
"Frequently Asked Questions About X386" FAQ list.
This article includes answers to:
I) What options do I have for X software on my Intel-based Unix system?
1. Free options
2. Commercial options
II) What is XFree86 and where do I get it?
3. What is XFree86?
4. What OSs are supported?
5. What video hardware is supported?
6. What about accelerated boards?
7. Why doesn't XFree86 support 16-color VGA modes?
8. What other hardware or software requirements are there?
9. Where can I get source for XFree86?
10. Where can I get binaries for XFree86?
IV) What general things should I know about running XFree86?
11. Installation directories
12. Configuration files
13. Determining VGA dot clocks and monitor modes
14. Rebuilding/reconfiguring the server from the link kit
V) What OS-specific things should I know about running XFree86?
15. SVR4
16. SVR3
17. 386BSD
18. Linux
19. Mach
VI) What general things should I know for building XFree86 from source?
20. Disk space requirements
21. README files to take note of
22. Compiler recommendations
VII) What OS-specific things should I know for building XFree86 from source?
23. SVR4
24. SVR3
25. 386BSD
26. Linux
27. Mach
VIII) Is there anything special about building clients with XFree86?
28. BSD compatibility library
29. ANSICCOPTIONS
This article does NOT include answers to general X questions, since these
are already covered by the X FAQ that is regularly posted by David B. Lewis
<faq%craft@uunet.uu.net>.
If you have anything to add or change on the FAQ just let me know.
(especially if you had a problem that someone else was able to help you with)
Send changes to steve@ecf.toronto.edu, please put 'FAQ' somewhere
in the subject line so that my mail filter will put it in the correct
mail folder.
Please DO NOT ask me questions that are not answered in the FAQ. I do not
have time to respond to these individually. Instead, post your question
to the net, and send me the question and answer together when you get it.
Frequently Asked Questions About X on Intel-based Unix (with answers)
=====================================================================
I) What options do I have for X software on my Intel-based Unix system?
1. Free options
The BEST option is XFree86, which is an enhanced version of X386 1.2.
Any other version of X386 will have slower performance, and will
be more difficult to compile. Information on how to obtain XFree86
is listed below.
X386 is the port of the X11 server to System V/386 that was
done by Thomas Roell (roell@sgcs.com).
It supports a wide variety of SVGA boards.
There are 2 major free versions: X386 1.1 is based on X11R4,
X386 1.2 is included in MIT's X11R5 distribution (ie. you
don't need to patch it into the MIT source any more).
X386 1.3 is the current commercial offering from SGCS (see below).
2. Commercial options
1) Metro Link
2213 W. McNab Road
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
(305) 970-7353
Fax: (305) 970-7351
email: sales@metrolink.com
Summary: OS: SVR3.2, SVR4, Venix
HW: EGA, VGA, SVGA, TIGA, TARGA, 8514/A, S3
Other: Motif, OpenLook/XView, XIE Imaging Extension
2) SGCS (Snitily Graphics Consulting Services)
894 Brookgrove Lane
Cupertino, CA 95014
(800) 645-5501, (408) 255-9665
Fax: (408) 255-9740
email: info@sgcs.com or ...!mips!zok!info
Summary: OS: SVR3.2, SVR4
HW: 8514/A (ATI Ultra), S3 (Diamond Stealth), SVGA
Other: Motif, Dual-headed server
3) Consensys Corporation
1301 Pat Booker Rd.
Universal City, TX 78148
Phone: 1-800-388-1896
FAX: 1-416-940-2903
email: info@consensys.com
Summary: OS: Consensys V4.2, Consensys' version of
Unix System V Release 4.2
HW: X11R4 server support for VGA, SVGA
Other: MoOLIT, Motif, X11R5 Clients
4) The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
p.o. box 1900
Santa Cruz, California 95061
(408) 425 7222, (800) SCO UNIX,
FAX: (408) 458 4227
email: info@sco.com
Summary: OS: ODT 1.1, ODT 2.0, SCO Unix 3.2v4
HW: X11R4 server support for SVGA, 8514/A, S3, TMS340x0,
WD90C31, XGA2, assorted local bus (see SCO Hardware
Compatabilty Guide for actual card vendors).
Other: Motif
NOTE: Other commercial vendors (including OS vendors describing
bundled software) are welcome to submit summary information
summary information such as the above.
II) What is XFree86 and where do I get it?
3. What is XFree86?
XFree86 is an enhanced version of X386 1.2, which was distributed with
X11R5. This release consists of many bug fixes, speed improvements, and
other enhancements. Here are the highlights of the enhancements:
1) The SpeedUp package from Glenn Lai is an integral part of XFree86,
selectable at run-time via the Xconfig file. Some SpeedUps require
an ET4000 based SVGA, and others require a virtual screen width of
1024. The SpeedUps suitable to the configuration are selected by
default. Depending on the underlying hardware, these enhancements
can provide as much as a 50% improvement in xStones.
2) The fX386 packages from Jim Tsillas are included as the default
operating mode if SpeedUp is not selected. This mode is now
equivalent in performance to X386 1.1b (X11R4).
3) Support for LOCALCONN, compile-time selectable for server, clients,
or both. This support is for both SVR3.2 and SVR4. For SVR4.0.4
with the 'Advanced Compatibility Package', local connections from
SCO XSight/ODT clients are supported.
4) Support for the newer ET4000-based SVGAs which have high clocks and
reported incorrect clock values with the standard version. This
support is automatic and does not require any Xconfig options.
Note that the Diamond SpeedStar 24 (as opposed to the 24X) is an
ET4000 board that is NOT compatible with XFree86 (in addition, the
SpeedStar 24X does not use an ET4000, and is also not supported).
5) Support for compressed bitmap fonts has been added (Thomas Eberhardt's
code from the contrib directory on export.lcs.mit.edu).
6) Integrated support for 386BSD, Mach, and Linux.
7) A monochrome version of the server which will run on generic VGA
cards is now included. This server uses just 64k of the memory on
the VGA, and hence is limited to a virtual screen of approx. 800x600.
8) New configuration method which allows the server's drivers and font
renderers to be reconfigured from both source and binary
distributions.
Also included are a tutorial on monitor timing by Bob Crosson, and the
current X386 mode database and a sample xdm configuration by David Wexelblat.
4. What OSs are supported?
XFree86 supports:
SVR4: Microport, Dell, Esix, ISC, AT&T, MST, Consensys, UHC
SVR3: ISC 2.2 & 3.0, AT&T 2.2
Linux, Mach, 386BSD
BSD/386 is not supported, but it should work. The most active
BSD/386 person is Greg Lehey <grog%lemis@germany.eu.net>.
Note that Esix 3.2D and SCO are not supported yet,
but anyone should feel free to submit patches.
If you are interested in tackling this, send mail to
xfree86@physics.su.oz.au
5. What video hardware is supported?
ET4000 (Tseng)
ET3000 (Tseng)
PVGA1 (Paradise)
WD90Cxx (Western Digital - Paradise PVGA1 Supersets)
GVGA (Genoa)
TVGA8900C (Trident)
ATI18800,28800 (ATI SVGA - not 8514!)
If you are purchasing new hardware for the purpose of using XFree86, it
is suggested that you purchase an ET4000-based board such as the
Orchid ProDesigner IIs. Avoid recent Diamond boards; XFree86 will not
work with them, because Diamond won't provide programming details.
In fact, the XFree86 project is actively not supporting new Diamond
products, as long as such policies remain in effect. Contributions
of code will NOT be accepted (because of the potential liabilities).
If you would like to see this change, tell Diamond about it.
6. What about accelerated boards?
At this time, there is no support for accelerated boards like the
S3, ATI Ultra (8514/A), TIGA, etc. This support is available in
commercial products from SGCS and MetroLink (for SVR3 and SVR4).
A beta S3 server is available for 386BSD. Contact <hasty@netcom.com>
A beta 8514/A server is available for Linux. Contact <martin@cs.unc.edu>
or <jon@robots.ox.ac.uk>. Note: these servers are NOT part of XFree86.
7. Why doesn't XFree86 support 16-color VGA modes?
The reason that this is not supported is the way VGA implements the
16-color modes. In 256-color modes, each byte of frame buffer memory
contains 1 pixel. But the 16-color modes are implemented as bit-
planes. Each byte of frame- buffer memory contains 1 bit from each
of each of 8 pixels, and there are four such planes. The MIT frame-
buffer code is not designed to deal with this. If VGA handled
16-color modes by packing 2 4-bit pixels into each byte, the MIT code
could be modified to support this (or it already may; I'm not sure).
But for the VGA way of doing things, a complete new frame-buffer
implementation is required. And it's not something the XFree86
Core Team wants to tackle.
8. What other hardware or software requirements are there?
Obviously, a supported SVGA board and OS are required. To run
X efficiently, 12-16MB of memory should be considered a minimum.
The various binary releases take 10-40MB of disk space, depending
on the OS (e.g. whether or not it supports shared libraries).
To build from sources, at least 80MB of free disk space will
be required, although 120MB should be considered a comfortable
lower bound.
9. Where can I get source for XFree86?
Source patches for the current version (1.1, based on X11R5 PL17
from MIT), are available via anonymous FTP from:
export.lcs.mit.edu (under /contrib/XFree86)
ftp.physics.su.oz.au (under /XFree86)
ftp.win.tue.nl (under /pub/XFree86)
(For the rest of this FAQ, these 3 location will be called $FTP)
Refer to the README file under the specified directory for information
on which files you need to get to build your distribution.
10. Where can I get binaries for XFree86?
Binaries are available via anonymous FTP from:
ftp.physics.su.oz.au - SVR4 binaries
under /XFree86/SVR4
ftp.win.tue.nl - SVR4 binaries
under /pub/XFree86/SVR4
ferkel.ucsb.edu - SVR4 binaries
under /pub/SVR4/XFree86
stasi.bradley.edu - SVR4 binaries
under /pub/XFree86/SVR4
blancmange.ma.utexas.edu - SVR3 (ISC) binaries
under /pub/ISC/XFree86-1.1
tsx-11.mit.edu - Linux binaries
under /pub/linux/packages/X11/xfree86-1.1
agate.berkeley.edu - 386BSD binaries
under /pub/386BSD/0.1-ports/XFree86
nova.cc.purdue.edu - 386BSD binaries
under /pub/386bsd/submissions/XFree86
ftp.cs.uwm.edu - Mach binaries
under /i386
Each binary distribution will contain a README file that describes
what files you need to take from the archive, and which compile-time
option selections were made when building the distribution.
IV) What general things should I know about running XFree86?
11. Installation directories
The top-level installation directory is specified by the ProjectRoot
(/usr/X386, by default) variable in config/site.def. Binaries, include
files, and libraries are installed in $ProjectRoot/{bin,include,lib}.
This can be changed when rebuilding from sources, and can be modified
via symbolic links for those OSs that support them. This directory is
nonstandard, and was chosen this way to allow XFree86 to be installed
alongside a commercial/vendor-supplied X implementation.
12. Configuration files
The XFree86 server reads a configuration file ("Xconfig") on startup.
The search path, contents and syntax for this file are documented in
the server manpage, which should be consulted before asking questions.
13. Determining VGA dot clocks and monitor modes
David E Wexelblat (dwex@mtgzfs3.att.com) maintains a database of known
clock settings for VGA cards and monitor settings.
The database is installed in /usr/X386/lib/X11/etc/modeDB.txt, and
is in the source tree under mit/server/ddx/x386/etc. This database is
also available from him (for the latest copy), and is kept on
export.lcs.mit.edu in ~/contrib/X386.modeDB.Z, which is updated
occasionally. Obtain a copy of this database. It just might have the
settings you need. If you create new settings, please send them to
David for inclusion in the database.
If this doesn't help you, the CONFIG and Xconfig.Notes files with
XFree86 contains tutorials on how to come up with these timings. It
may be helpful to start with settings that almost work, and use this
description to get them right. When you do, send the information to
David Wexelblat for inclusion in the database.
NOTE: The old 'clock.exe' program is not supported any more, and
is completely unnecessary. If you need to determine dot
clock values for a new board, remove the 'Clocks' line from
your Xconfig file (if present), and start the server. The
server will probe for clocks itself and print them out.
You can use these values to put a 'Clocks' line into your
Xconfig file, which is not necessary, but will speed up
starting the server in the future.
14. Rebuilding/reconfiguring the server from the link kit
If you have installed the server Binary Link Kit, it is possible to
reconfigure the drivers and font renderers in the server. This is
fully explained in the README file that is available with the link kit.
V) What OS-specific things should I know about running XFree86?
First of all, the server must be installed suid-root (mode 4755).
15. SVR4
Why won't my xterm run properly?
If your kernel is not built with the consem module, you should define
CONSEM=no in you environment. Otherwise xterm won't run.
csh users should use 'setenv CONSEM no'
The Esix console driver patch 403019 is known to cause keymapping
problems with XFree86. It recommended that this patch not be
installed. Alternatively they keymap can be fixed with xmodmap.
16. SVR3
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.ISC, if that's what you are running.
17. 386BSD
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.386BSD.
1) What if after xdm, twm and xterm start up and run ok, the keyboard
freezes and i have to reboot?
If the server crashes and fails to put the keyboard back in ascii
mode (e.g. your keyboard is dead but remote logins are fine), you
can reset it by 'kbd_mode -a' from a remote login. Likewise, if a
rogue program put the keyboard in ascii mode while the server is
running, the keyboard will need to be reset using 'kbd_mode -u'.
2) What do I do if xdm reports 'Crypt not present in system' or xdm
won't accept my password?
If you are using the xdm binary from core-bin-1.1.tar.Z on agate,
make sure your passwords are unencrypted. Use vipw to check the
password file -- you should see the unencrypted passwords there.
If so, ignore the 'Crypt not present in system' message.
Why? 386BSD 0.1's stock crypt routine is a dummy (crypt_dummy.c)
that prints this message whenever you invoke it. This message
merely tells you that passwords are unencrypted.
This dummy crypt is staticly linked into xdm in core-bin-1.1.tar.Z
on agate, and export restrictions prevent us from providing
binaries with a real crypt. If you need xdm with a working crypt,
you will have to get the XFree86 distribution and rebuild xdm.
Chris Demetriou's /usr/386bsd.errata/crypt.instructions tells you
how to install a real crypt.
[ thanks to rich@lamprey.utmb.edu for these suggestions ]
18. Linux
You must be running Linux 0.97pl4 or greater, and have the 4.1 gcc
jump libraries installed.
Make sure the binaries X386, X386mono, xload and xterm are setuid root.
If your kernel doesn't have TCP support compiled in, you'll have to
run the server as "X -pn". The default startup configuration assumes
that TCP is not available. If it is, change the two files
/usr/X386/bin/startx and /usr/X386/lib/X11/xdm/Xservers, removing the
-pn argument to X386.
Make sure /dev/console is either a link to /dev/tty0 or has the major
number 4, minor number 0. Also note that if /dev/console is not
owned by the user running X, then xconsole and xterm will not permit
console output redirection. Xdm will properly change the owner, but
startx won't.
When running xdm from rc.local, you will need to provide it with
a tty, for example "xdm < /dev/console &".
For more detailed information, please read the file README present
with the distribution on tsx-11.mit.edu.
19. Mach
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.Mach.
VI) What general things should I know for building XFree86 from source?
20. Disk space requirements
- about 60-70MB of free disk space is required for building XFree86. An
additional 20-30MB is required to install the built binaries,
- If you don't want to build PEX and/or want to minimize disk usage,
you can remove some or all of the following directories:
mit/doc mit/hardcopy
mit/demos/auto_box mit/extensions/lib/PEX
mit/demos/beach_ball mit/extensions/server/PEX
mit/demos/gpc mit/extensions/test/InsPEX
mit/fonts/PEX mit/lib/CLX
mit/server/ddx/dec mit/server/ddx/ibm
mit/server/ddx/macII mit/server/ddx/mips
mit/server/ddx/omron mit/server/ddx/snf
mit/server/ddx/sun mit/server/ddx/tek
mit/util/PEX
The following large fonts in mit/fonts/bdf/misc can also be removed:
k14.bdf hang*.bdf jiskan*.bdf
21. README files to take note of
$FTP/README, as well as any system-specific README file.
Also read through 'site.def'. There are lots of documented options
that can be changed from their defaults by editing this file.
22. Compiler recommendations
gcc 2.? is *strongly* recommended for building server, libs, clients.
In most cases it generates faster code than the standard compiler, and
for those with a 486, its -m486 flag can provide an additional 5%
improvement. The resulting executables will be larger, but can still
be run on a 386 CPU with no loss in performance.
VII) What OS-specific things should I know for building XFree86 from source?
23. SVR4
You may need to re-tune your kernel (see the README file).
Don't use csh, use ksh instead.
24. SVR3
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.ISC, if that's what you are running.
25. 386BSD
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.386BSD.
26. Linux
Some Makefiles in the server are automatically generated based on
configuration options. Under Linux, these automatic makes do not
perform the "make depend" step. To turn that back on, change the
definition of "Depend" in x386.cf from "emptyrule" to "depend".
Makedepend is a shell script that uses ed. The public domain version
of ed used in linux has a line length limit of 512 characters,
and mit/lib/X has one line of 1500 characters, causing make to fail.
Recompiling ed with a line limit of 2048 will avoid this problem.
[ Thanks to <jon@robots.ox.ac.uk> for this suggestion ]
To create private jump libraries, use the tools in the gcc shlib
subdirectory. Change the Makefile appropriately and type "make X11".
For more detailed information, please read the file README present
with the distribution on tsx-11.mit.edu.
27. Mach
Make sure you look at $FTP/README.Mach.
VIII) Is there anything special about building clients with XFree86?
28. BSD compatibility library
A lot of clients make use of BSD functions like bcopy(), etc.
The default configuration files are set up to link with libXbsd.a
which contains emulation for bcopy(), bzero(), bcmp(), ffs(), random(),
seed(). A better way of providing the 'b' functions is to include
<X11/Xfuncs.h> in source files that call them. Xfuncs.h provides macro
definitions for these in terms of the SYSV 'mem' functions. If you are
linking with a vendor supplied library which calls some of these
functions, then you should link with libXbsd.a
29. ANSICCOPTIONS
This is something that was added to allow a developer to get rid of the
ANSI-ness defined in the default CCOPTIONS without having to rewrite
the entire CCOPTIONS line. For example, with stock MIT, you'd see
something like
CCOPTIONS="-ansi -O2 -fwritable-strings"
and to get rid of the ANSI-ness, the developer would have to put
CCOPTIONS="-O2 -fwritable-strings"
in his Imakefile. With this change, you would see a default of
ANSICCOPTIONS="-ansi"
CCOPTIONS="-O2 -fwritable-strings"
and all the developer would have to put in the Imakefile is:
ANSICCOPTIONS=
to get rid of the ANSI-ness (many X clients will die a horrible death
with -ansi). The effect is even more dramatic in practice, because
CCOPTIONS is actually quite complex. The other issue is that one must
add 'ANSICCOPTIONS=$(ANSICCOPTIONS)' to a PassCDebugFlags definition.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ongoing development planning and support is coordinated by the XFree86
Core Team. At this time the Core Team consists of:
The original "gang of four":
David Dawes <dawes@physics.su.oz.au>
Glenn Lai <glenn@cs.utexas.edu>
Jim Tsillas <jtsilla@damon.ccs.northeastern.edu>
David Wexelblat <dwex@mtgzfs3.att.com>
Those supporting non-SYSV operating systems:
Robert Baron <Robert.Baron@ernst.mach.cs.cmu.edu> [Mach]
Rich Murphey <rich@lamprey.utmb.edu> [386BSD]
Orest Zborowski <obz@raster.kodak.com> [Linux]
e-mail sent to <xfree86@physics.su.oz.au> will reach all of the core team.
--------------------------------------------------
Thanks to all the people who already sent me corrections or additions.
--
Steve Kotsopoulos mail: steve@ecf.toronto.edu
Systems Analyst bitnet: steve@ecf.UTORONTO.BITNET
Engineering Computing Facility uucp: uunet!utai!ecf!steve
University of Toronto phone: (416) 978-5898