Archive-name: x-faq/Intel-Unix-X-faq Last-modified: 2 May 1995 This article includes answers to: I) What options do I have for X software on my Intel-based Unix system? Free options Commercial options II) What is XFree86 and where do I get it? What is XFree86? What OSs are supported? What video hardware is supported? Who else supports accelerated boards? What other hardware or software requirements are there? Where can I get source and binaries for XFree86? IV) What general things should I know about running XFree86? Installation directories Configuration files Determining VGA dot clocks and monitor modes Rebuilding/reconfiguring the server from the link kit V) What OS-specific things should I know about running XFree86? SVR4 SVR3 BSD Linux Mach VI) What things should I know for building XFree86 from source? VII) Is there anything special about building clients with XFree86? BSD compatibility library ANSICCOPTIONS VIII) Where to get more information The latest version of this article is available by anonymous ftp from ftp.x.org:/contrib/faqs/Intel-Unix-X-faq.Z This article does NOT include answers to general X questions, since they are already covered by the X FAQ that is regularly posted by David B. Lewis . For information on X packages for DOS systems, consult the (PC)NFS FAQ available from seagull.rtd.com:/pub/tcpip/pcnfs.FAQ.v1.2.Z If you have anything to add or change on this 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 folder. Please do not ask me questions that are not answered in this FAQ. I don't 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? Subject: Free options The BEST option is XFree86, which is an enhanced version of X386 1.2. Any other version of X386 will be more difficult to compile. Information on how to obtain it is listed below. X386 is the port of the X11 server to System V/386 that was done by Thomas Roell (bugs@xinside.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). Several other options are available for people running NeXTSTEP on i486 and Pentium hardware. Information on mouseX, Cub'X and Co-Xist is available via anonymous ftp from cs.orst.edu in /pub/next/XNeXT. Subject: Commercial options 1) Metro Link 2213 W. McNab Road Pompano Beach, FL 33069 (305) 938-0283 Fax: (305) 970-7351 email: sales@metrolink.com Summary: OS: QNX, SVR3, SVR4.[012], SCO, UnixWare, LynxOS, DESQview/X, Venix, ISC, Solaris, Pyramid, SunOS HW: EGA, VGA, SVGA, TIGA, TARGA, 8514/A, Mach, S3, WD, Fujistu, Matrox, Microfield Graphics, R33020 Other: Motif, OpenLook/XView, XIE Imaging Extension, Xv Video Extension, Audio Drivers, Multi Media 2) X Inside Incorporated P O Box 10774 Golden, CO 80401-0610 +1(303)384-9999, (800)XIN-SIDE [800-946-7433] Fax: +1(303)384-9778 email: sales@xinside.com Department: Automated Information Services Email: info@xinside.com Web: http://www.xinside.com/ Anon-FTP: ftp.xinside.com Mail lists: majordomo@xinside.com Summary: OS: AT&T UNIX, BSDI, Esix, FreeBSD, ICL, ISC, Linux, OnSite, SCO, SINIX-Z, Solaris, UnixWare HW: Supported graphics board, almost any monitor. Other: Extensions include MIT-SCREEN-SAVER, MIT-SHM, Multi-Buffering, SHAPE, XIdle, XsightExtension. 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, ODT 3.0 HW: X11R5 server support for SVGA, 8514/A, S3, TMS340x0, GD5426, P9000, ET4000/W32, Mach32, WD90C33, 86C801, 86C805, 86C928, WD90C31, XGA2, QVision, misc. localbus video systems (see Hardware Compatibility Handbook for actual card vendors). Other: Motif 5) Answer Software & Consulting p.o. box 14171 Columbus, Ohio 43214 614-263-XLAB email: sales@x4coher.com Summary: OS: Coherent 4.0.1r72 or greater HW: works with any VESA compliant video 6) OpenWindows (shipped as part of the Solaris for x86 OS) SunSoft Inc. 2550 Garcia Ave. Mountain View, CA 94043 Phone: 415-960-3200 Summary: OS: Solaris for x86, SunSoft's version of SVR4 HW: ATI, Cirrus, S3, 8514, VGA, XGA, Matrox, Weitek, etc. Complete list of supported cards available by mailing x86hcl@sun.com. Other: X11R5 clients, XView, OLIT, DeskSet, Adobe Display PostScript, XGL (3D Graphics), XIL (Imaging) 7) Mark Williams Company Mark Williams Company went out of business about Feb 2 1995. Check comp.os.coherent for details and flamewars. NOTE: Other commercial vendors (including OS vendors describing bundled software) are welcome to submit summary information such as the above. II) What is XFree86 and where do I get it? Subject: What is XFree86? XFree86 is a added-value package for X11R6 that supports several versions of Intel-based Unix and Unix-like operating systems. XFree86-3.0 was part of the X11R6 core distribution. XFree86-3.1.1 consists of many new features and performance improvements as well as many bug fixes. The release is available as source patches against the X Consortium X11R6 code, as well as binary distributions for many architectures. The following items have been added since XFree86 3.1 was released in October 1994: 1. XFree86 3.1.1 includes the X Consortium's recently released public patches (up to fix-11). The XFree86 Project, Inc has worked with the X Consortium to have much of XFree86 3.1.1 included in the X Consortium's fix-11. 2. A new accelerated server for Mach64 boards. 3. Support for the S3 Trio32 and Trio64 chipsets. 4. Support in the S3 server for the Chrontel 8391 clock chip. 5. Support for SPEA Mercury P64 and MIRO Crystal 40SV. 6. Bug fixes and some performance improvements for most of the accelerated servers. 7. Support for `double scan' video modes (most servers). 8. New chipset support for the SVGA server. This includes the Avance Logic 2228/2301, Chips & Technology 655xx, Cirrus Logic 6440, and Oak OTI-087. Accelerated support is included for the OTI-087. 9. Support for FreeBSD 2.0. 10. Preliminary support for OS/2 (client-only at this stage; this is still under development). 11. Linear aperture access when running on BSD/386. 12. 16bpp and 32bpp support for more S3 boards (refer to README.S3 (S3.html) for details). 13. Support for ISC's SVR3 (only tested for 3.x and 4.x). 14. The `xf86config' utility for generating XF86Config files has been improved and now uses a database of video cards. 15. The X server LinkKit has been updated to include support for LBX. 16. The slow X server startup time on machines without hardware floating point has been improved. Plus a number of other small items. Refer to the CHANGELOG file in the source distribution for full details. Also included are a tutorial on monitor timing by Eric Raymond, and the current X386 mode database and a sample xdm configuration by David Wexelblat. Subject: What OSs are supported? SVR4.0: o Esix: 4.0.3A, 4.0.4, 4.0.4.1 o Microport: 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2 o Dell: 2.1, 2.2, 2.2.1 o UHC: 2.0, 3.6 o Consensys: 1.2 o MST: 4.0.3 (Load 2.07 and Load 3.02) o ISC: 4.0.3 o AT&T: 2.1, 4.0 o NCR: MP-RAS o SunSoft: Solaris x86 2.1, 2.4 SVR4.2: o Consensys o Novell UnixWare SVR3: o SCO: 3.2.2, 3.2.4 o ISC: 3.0, 4.0, 4.1 Others: o NetBSD 1.0, o FreeBSD 1.1.5.1, 2.0 o BSD/386 1.1 o Mach 386 o Linux o Amoeba o Minix-386 Note that Esix 3.2D is not supported yet, but anyone should feel free to submit patches. If you are interested in tackling this, send mail to xfree86-core@xfree86.org Subject: What video hardware is supported? At this time, XFree86 3.1.1 supports the following accelerated chipsets: 8514/A (and true clones) ATI Mach8, Mach32, Mach64 Cirrus CLGD5420, CLGD5422, CLGD5424, CLGD5426, CLGD5428, CLGD5429, CLGD5430, CLGD5434 S3 86C911, 86C924, 86C801, 86C805, 86C805i, 86C928, 86C864, 86C964, 86C732, 86C764 Western Digital WD90C31, WD90C33 Weitek P9000 IIT AGX-014, AGX-015, AGX-016 Tseng ET4000/W32, ET4000/W32i, ET4000/W32p The Cirrus, Western Digital and Oak accelerators are supported in the SVGA server; the other chipsets each have their own server. A list of some cards which the accelerated servers have been tested is included in the files AccelCards, Devices, and some of the chipset-specific README files. They may well work on other cards, but we cannot guarantee it. In addition, the following SVGA chipsets are supported: Tseng ET3000, ET4000AX, ET4000/W32 Western Digital/Paradise PVGA1 Western Digital WD90C00, WD90C10, WD90C11, WD90C24, WD90C30, WD90C31,WD90C33 Genoa GVGA Trident TVGA8800CS, TVGA8900B, TVGA8900C, TVGA8900CL, TVGA9000, TVGA9000i, TVGA9100B, TVGA9200CX, TVGA9320, TVGA9400CX, TVGA9420 ATI 18800, 18800-1, 28800-2, 28800-4, 28800-5, 28800-6, 68800-3, 68800-6, 68800AX, 68800LX, 88800 NCR 77C22, 77C22E, 77C22E+ Cirrus Logic CLGD5420, CLGD5422, CLGD5424, CLGD5426, CLGD5428, CLGD5429, CLGD5430, CLGD5434, CLGD6205, CLGD6215, CLGD6225, CLGD6235, CLGD6410, CLGD6412, CLGD6420, CLGD6440 Compaq AVGA OAK OTI067, OTI077, OTI087 Avance Logic ALG2101, ALG2228, ALG2301, ALG2302, ALG2308, ALG2401 Chips & Technology 65520, 65530, 65540, 65545 MX MX68000, MX680010 Video 7/Headland Technologies HT216-32 All of the above are supported in both 256 color and monochrome modes, with the exception of the Advance Logic, MX, Chips & Technology and Video 7 chipsets, which are only supported in 256 color mode. Refer to the chipset-specific README files (currently for Cirrus, Tseng, Western Digital, ATI, Trident, Oak and Video 7) for more information about using those chipsets. The monochrome server also supports generic VGA cards, using 64k of video memory in a single bank, the Hercules monochrome card, the Hyundai HGC1280, Sigma LaserView, Visa and Apollo monochrome cards. On the Compaq AVGA, only 64k of video memory is supported for the monochrome server, and the GVGA has not been tested with more than 64k. The VGA16 server supports memory banking with the ET4000, Trident, ATI, NCR, OAK and Cirrus 6420 chipsets allowing virtual display sizes up to about 1600x1200 (with 1MB of video memory). For other chipsets the display size is limited to approximately 800x600. Note: The Diamond SpeedStar 24 (and possibly recent SpeedStar+) boards are NOT supported, even though they use the ET4000. The Stealth 32 which uses the ET4000/W32p is also not supported. Most other Diamond boards will work with this release of XFree86. Historically the information required for this support was only available under non- disclosure. As of September 27, 1994, Diamond has verbally agreed to provide The XFree86 Project, Inc. with detailed information about Diamond products. This should permit us to better support these in future versions of XFree86. Subject: Who else supports accelerated boards? This support is available in commercial products several vendors. See the "Commercial options" section for details. Subject: What other hardware or software requirements are there? Obviously, a supported video board and OS are required. To run X efficiently, 8-12MB of real 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. If you are VERY tight on space, look into tinyX. Subject: Where can I get source and binaries for XFree86? Source patches are available to upgrade X11R6 PL11 from the X Consortium to XFree86 3.1.1. They and binaries for many OSs are available via anonymous FTP from: o ftp.XFree86.org:/pub/XFree86/current (ftp://ftp.XFree86.org/pub/XFree86/current) and the following mirror sites: o North America: + ftp.bsdi.com:/contrib/X11/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.bsdi.com/contrib/X11/XFree86) (source and BSD/386 binaries) + XFree86.cdrom.com:/pub/XFree86 (ftp://XFree86.cdrom.com/pub/XFree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.iastate.edu:/pub/XFree86/XFree86-3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.iastate.edu/pub/XFree86/XFree86-3.1.1) (source patches and NetBSD binaries) (Also via AFS: /afs/iastate.edu/public/ftp/pub/XFree86/XFree86-3.1.1) + tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/X11/XFree86-3.1.1 (ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/packages/X11/XFree86-3.1.1) (Linux binaries and source) + ref.tfs.com:/pub/mirrors/XFree86 (ftp://ref.tfs.com/pub/mirrors/XFree86) (source patches and FreeBSD binaries) + ftp.eecs.umich.edu:/BSD/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.eecs.umich.edu/BSD/XFree86) (source and binaries) + sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/X11/XFree86 (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/X11/XFree86) (source patches and binaries) + abode.ccd.bnl.gov:/pub/XFree86 (ftp://abode.ccd.bnl.gov/pub/XFree86) (Solaris, SVR4, SCO binaries) o Europe: + fvkma.tu-graz.ac.at:/pub/X11/XFree86/3.1.1 (ftp://fvkma.tu- graz.ac.at/pub/XFree86/3.1.1) (source and binaries) + ftp.switch.ch:/mirror/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.switch.ch/mirror/XFree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.fee.vutbr.cz:/pub/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.fee.vutbr.cz/pub/XFree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.gwdg.de:/pub/xfree86 (ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/xfree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.uni-erlangen.de:/pub/Linux/MIRROR.xfree86/3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.uni-erlangen.de/pub/Linux/MIRROR.xfree86/3.1.1) (source patches and Linux binaries) + ftp.uni-stuttgart.de:/pub/X11/Xfree86/3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.uni- stuttgart.de/pub/X11/Xfree86/3.1.1) (source and binaries) + ftp.funet.fi:/pub/X11/XFree86/3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/X11/XFree86/3.1.1) (source and binaries) + anasgard.calvacom.fr:/pub/unix/X/XFree86 (ftp://anasgard.calvacom.fr/pub/unix/X/XFree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.laas.fr:/pub/netbsd/XFree86-3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.laas.fr/pub/NetBSD/XFree86-3.1.1) (NetBSD binaries only) + ftp.unipi.it:/pub/mirrors/XFree86-3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.unipi.it/pub/mirrors/XFree86-3.1.1) (source and binaries) o Asia/Australia: + x.physics.su.oz.au:/pub/XFree86/3.1.1 (ftp://x.physics.su.oz.au/pub/XFree86/3.1.1) (source and binaries) + ftp.hk.super.net:/mirror/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.hk.super.net/mirror/XFree86) (source and binaries) + ftp.nectec.or.th:/pub/mirrors/XFree86 (ftp://ftp.nectec.or.th/pub/mirrors/XFree86) (source patches and binaries) + ftp.edu.tw:/X/XFree86/3.1.1 (ftp://ftp.edu.tw/X/XFree86/3.1.1) (source and binaries) Please use the closest mirror site where possible. For the rest of this FAQ, these archive sites 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. Ensure that you are getting XFree86 3.1.1 - some of these sites may archive older releases as well. 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? Subject: 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. Subject: 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. Subject: Determining VGA dot clocks and monitor modes David E Wexelblat (dwex@XFree86.Org) 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 ftp.XFree86.Org:/pub/XFree86/current/XF86VidDoc.tar.gz, 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 VideoModes.doc (by Eric Raymond) file with XFree86 contains tutorials on how to come up with these timings. Also look at the AccelCards file. It has a list of `known-to-work' cards with additional info like clock chip, clocks, ramdac, etc. 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. Subject: 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). Subject: SVR4 Make sure you look at $FTP/README.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. Subject: SVR3 Make sure you look at $FTP/README.isc, if that's what you are running. Subject: BSD Make sure you look at $FTP/[ README.Bsdi README.FreeBSD README.NetBSD ]. Subject: Linux Make sure you look at $FTP/README.Linux. You must be running Linux 0.99pl13 or greater, and have the 4.5.26 gcc jump libraries and ld.so-1.3 installed. Make sure all the servers XF86_*, 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. For more detailed information, please read the files README and X11-HOWTO present with the distribution on tsx-11.mit.edu. Subject: Mach Make sure you look at $FTP/README.Mach. VI) What things should I know for building XFree86 from source? This section has been removed from the FAQ, since it is fully explained in $FTP/README and the OS-specific READMEs. Please look at those files for information on building XFree86. VII) Is there anything special about building clients with XFree86? Subject: BSD compatibility library A lot of clients make use of BSD functions like bcopy(), etc. The default configuration files are set up to link with libXbsd.a which contains emulation for bcopy(), bzero(), bcmp(), ffs(), random(), seed(). A better way of providing the 'b' functions is to include in source files that call them. Xfuncs.h provides macro definitions for these in terms of the SYSV 'mem' functions. If you are linking with a vendor supplied library which calls some of these functions, then you should link with libXbsd.a Subject: ANSICCOPTIONS This is something that was added to allow a developer to get rid of the ANSI-ness defined in the default CCOPTIONS without having to rewrite the entire CCOPTIONS line. For example, with stock MIT, you'd see something like CCOPTIONS="-ansi -O2 -fwritable-strings" and to get rid of the ANSI-ness, the developer would have to put CCOPTIONS="-O2 -fwritable-strings" in his Imakefile. With this change, you would see a default of ANSICCOPTIONS="-ansi" CCOPTIONS="-O2 -fwritable-strings" and all the developer would have to put in the Imakefile is: ANSICCOPTIONS= to get rid of the ANSI-ness (many X clients will die a horrible death with -ansi). The effect is even more dramatic in practice, because CCOPTIONS is actually quite complex. The other issue is that one must add 'ANSICCOPTIONS=$(ANSICCOPTIONS)' to a PassCDebugFlags definition. Subject: Where to get more information Additional documentation is available in the XFree86(1), XF86Config(4/5), XF86_SVGA(1), XF86_Mono(1), XF86_VGA16(1) and XF86_Accel(1) manual pages. In addition, several README files and tutorial documents are provided. These are available in /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/doc in the binary distributions, and in xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/doc in the source distribution. The files README.Config and VideoModes.doc should be consulted for information on how to set up the XFree86 servers. All supplied documents and manual pages should be read before contacting the XFree86 team for assistance. Documentation on SVGA driver development can be found in the directory /usr/X11R6/lib/Server/VGADriverDoc in the binary distribution, and in the directory xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/VGADriverDoc in the source distribution. If you are totally at a loss, you can contact the XFree86 Core Team at the electronic mail address below. There is a Usenet news group comp.windows.x.i386unix that contains mostly discussions about XFree86 and related topics. Many questions can be answered there. -------------------------------------------------- XFree86 Contact Information Ongoing development planning and support is coordinated by the XFree86 Core Team. At this time the Core Team consists of (in alphabetical order): Robin Cutshaw David Dawes Marc Evans Dirk Hohndel Rich Murphey Jon Tombs David Wexelblat Mail sent to will reach the core team. Also, you can access their web server at url http://www.xfree86.org -------------------------------------------------- Thanks to all the people who already sent me corrections or additions, especially David Wexelblat (one of the major contributors of updates). -- Steve Kotsopoulos P.Eng. steve@ecf.toronto.edu Systems Analyst, Engineering Computing Facility, University of Toronto http://www.ecf.toronto.edu/ecf/staff/steve/