Introduction
This topic covers the configuration of XFree86 (the X-Windows system) for your Yellow Dog Linux 2.0 system.
Using Xconfigurator
During installation, you were presented several screens for setting up
your monitor and video card's resolution and color options. The
program you were using as part of the installer is Xconfigurator.
Xconfigurator has many monitors available on the market, including most sold by Apple Computer, predefined. This allows you to easily setup XFree86 on your system without knowing the technical details of your monitor.
If you are having problems getting into XFree86 after you have installed Yellow Dog Linux 2.0, we recommend that you re-run Xconfigurator and make certain you have choosen the proper settings for your machines.
As root ("Super User") at the command-line, you can run Xconfigurator by typing:
Xconfigurator
After you have done that, you can see if XFree86 is now working by typing:
startx
If it does, congratulations! If not, continue on to the next section.
Using Xautoconfig
Xautoconfig is a program that is on your Install CD which
configures XFree86 in a very generic, failsafe way. If
you haven't been able to get X running using Xconfigurator,
you should follow the steps in this section which will
almost certainly get you up and running.
Before you continue, please verify that your system has the 'Xautoconfig' package installed. You can do this by typing the following command at the prompt:
rpm -qi Xautoconfig
If you see a lot of information output to your terminal describing wireless-tools, then you do infact have that package installed. If you simply returned to a command prompt, then you will need to install Xautoconfig before proceeding.
Once Xautoconfig is installed, simply type at the command line:
Xautoconfig4
You should see output that says a /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file was written. Now you are ready to try running X. At the command prompt, type:
startx
Under most circumstances, this should work for you. The color settings and resolution may not be ideal, however. Xautoconfig works by using the resolution and color settings that your console is running in as the basis for the X config file it creates. This guarentees that X will be able to start as your console video is initialized to a working setting.
To change your resolution and/or color depth, you need to use the 'fbset' program. fbset is a command line utility that lets you view or modify your console's "framebuffer" (video) settings. Let's say you wanted to run X at 1024x768 at 75 Hz using millions of colors. Assuming your monitor and video card support this, you can type the following:
/usr/sbin/fbset 1024x768-75 -depth 15
(if you are on a machine with a Rage128, you will need to replace the '15' with a '16')
Xautoconfig4 startx
The above runs Xautoconfig after you have set your console to the resolution and color depth that you feel is ideal for your XFree86 settings. If X does not work, or looks strange with the new values you have choosen, double check that you have provided fbset with values your hardware support.
That's it. Enjoy Xfree86 and Yellow Dog Linux 2.0!
