Probably the most popular way to interact with any Unix-type system is via the X-windows interface. The free implementation of the X Consortium's X11R6 is XFree86.
I. Default XFree86 and Related Packages in Fermi Red Hat Linux v5.0.2
B. Which server for which video card: use Xconfigurator
2. If the correct one is not installed, use rpm to install it:
3. Restart Xconfigurator and continue.
C. Configuring for the Monitor - multiple guess.
2. Select "Generic Multisync"
b. The program will probe the monitor and select the best resolution
and color depth automatically.
b. Select the closest vertical sync range but do not exceed the upper or lower limits of the monitor. Phyical damage may result! Check the manual that comes with the monitor.
b. (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) should reboot the system
2. Solution: Hard reboot (ouch!) to bring system back.
3. Cause: Video card IRQ conflict, generally with the ethernet or SCSI adapter. To remedy, physically move cards around in the system. This is a bug in the server, which hopefully will be fixed in the next releases of XFree86.
B. Worst Case Scenario #2: Grey screen of uselessness
2. Solution: Kill the X-session with (Ctrl-Alt-Backspace)
3. Cause: /tmp is in mode 000. To remedy set the mode on /tmp to 777.
C. Worst Case Scenario #3: Tease Mode
2. Solution: Re-run Xconfigurator and choose "Generic Multisync" as the monitor.
3. You can also run the follwing command to help diagnose the problem:
This will create the file /tmp/Xout.txt which you can look at to help
determine a solution. Here's an example output
IV. Fine Tuning and Extra Tips
b. While doing a normal configuration of X with Xconfigurator, the highest resolution it offers is 1280x1024.
c. Looking in the /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/doc/Monitors file there are several entries for 1600x1200. Choose one that has a Vertical Refresh rate between 70-80 Hz. (Avoid 60 Hz as this is the rate that flourescent lights flash at and staring at a screen that has the same frequency can cause headaches and irratability.) There is one entry that refreshes at 75Hz. Take the line that starts with the word "Modeline" and insert it near the bottom of the section labelled "Monitor section" but before the EndSection line.
d. In the next section, the "Screen sections," find the section that
corresponds to the server installed on the machine. This will either be
in the SVGA or Accelerated Section. In the Modes line add the mode you
just added to the "Monitor section." This is what it should look like:
e. Save the file, exit the X window session (if started) and restart with startx. Everything *should* work correctly.
f. Fine tuning may need to be done either with xvidtune or on-monitor controls to center and size the image. Using xvidtune you can adjust the timings and push the "show" button to dump a standard XF86Config style Modeline line. This can then be copied into the XF86Config file in place of the original line you placed.
B. X Login Screen: XDM
1. Q: How do I get that cute penguin login screen, instead of the dull drab console screen?
2. A: Edit the /etc/inittab file to make it enter run level 5 instead
of the default run level of 3. Look for the following line in the inittab
file and change the 3 to a 5:
C. Higher Color Depths
2. A: If you prefer to use the console login screen, and start X with
'startx' then use these options with startx:
3. A: If you are using xdm as your login screen then you need to edit
the /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers file and make the entry look like this (for 16
bit color depth):
D. The Virtual Desktop
2. A: One of 2 ways:
b. Edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config file and remove all the lines that start with "Virtual" in the Screen section. Then edit the "Mode" line to re-arrange the modes that are available so the highest is first.
E. Window Managers
1. Three window managers come in the current Fermi Red Hat distribution at this time. They are the AnotherLevel, TheNextLevel and Lesstif Window Manager, with the AnotherLevel being the default window manager. Extensive man pages exist for all of these window managers. Another utility that can be used to customize the look and feel of your window manager is called wmconfig.
2. There are dozens of other window managers available, but we leave these up to you to install and configure, and we don't recommend that you let anyone else know about them, just to cut down on the "I want to change the color of..." type questions. Having said that, I have used kde, gnome, and xfce.