Running Linux, Third Edition

Running XFree86

With your XF86Config file configured, you’re ready to fire up the X server and give it a spin. First, be sure that /usr/X11R6/bin is on your path.

The command to start up XFree86 is:

startx

This is a frontend to xinit (in case you’re used to using xinit on other Unix systems). You can still use xinit, which gives you precise control about what exactly is started but requires you to start all needed programs manually.

This command starts the X server and runs the commands found in the file .xinitrc in your home directory. .xinitrc is just a shell script containing X clients to run. If this file does not exist, the system default /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/xinitrc will be used.

You can change the initial display when starting up the X Window System by providing a different .xinitrc in your home directory. The next chapter tells you what you can put in this file.

If you are new to the X Window System environment, we strongly suggest picking up a book such as The X Window System User’s Guide by Valerie Quercia and Tim O’Reilly.