Xorg(1)                     General Commands Manual                    Xorg(1)



NAME
       Xorg - X11R7 X server

SYNOPSIS
       Xorg [:display] [option ...]

DESCRIPTION
       Xorg  is a full featured X server that was originally designed for UNIX
       and UNIX-like operating systems running on Intel x86 hardware.  It  now
       runs on a wider range of hardware and OS platforms.

       This  work  was  derived  by  the  X.Org  Foundation  from  the XFree86
       Project's XFree86 4.4rc2 release.  The XFree86 release  was  originally
       derived from X386 1.2 by Thomas Roell which was contributed to X11R5 by
       Snitily Graphics Consulting Service.

PLATFORMS
       Xorg operates under a wide range  of  operating  systems  and  hardware
       platforms.   The  Intel x86 (IA32) architecture is the most widely sup-
       ported hardware platform.   Other  hardware  platforms  include  Compaq
       Alpha, Intel IA64, AMD64, SPARC and PowerPC.  The most widely supported
       operating systems are the free/OpenSource  UNIX-like  systems  such  as
       Linux,  FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Solaris.  Commercial UNIX operat-
       ing systems such as UnixWare are also supported.  Other supported oper-
       ating  systems  include  GNU  Hurd.   Mac  OS  X  is supported with the
       Xquartz(1) X server.  Win32/Cygwin is  supported  with  the  XWin(1)  X
       server.

NETWORK CONNECTIONS
       Xorg  supports  connections  made  using  the  following reliable byte-
       streams:

       Local
           On most platforms, the "Local" connection  type  is  a  UNIX-domain
           socket.   On  some System V platforms, the "local" connection types
           also include STREAMS pipes, named pipes, and some other mechanisms.

       TCPIP
           Xorg listens on port 6000+n, where n is the display  number.   This
           connection  type can be disabled with the -nolisten option (see the
           Xserver(1) man page for details).

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
       For operating systems that support local connections  other  than  Unix
       Domain  sockets (SVR3 and SVR4), there is a compiled-in list specifying
       the order in which local connections should be  attempted.   This  list
       can  be  overridden by the XLOCAL environment variable described below.
       If the display name indicates a best-choice connection should  be  made
       (e.g.   :0.0),  each  connection  mechanism is tried until a connection
       succeeds or no more mechanisms are available.  Note: for these OSs, the
       Unix  Domain  socket  connection  is treated differently from the other
       local connection types.  To use it  the  connection  must  be  made  to
       unix:0.0.

       The  XLOCAL environment variable should contain a list of one more more
       of the following:

               NAMED
               PTS
               SCO
               ISC

       which represent SVR4 Named Streams pipe, Old-style  USL  Streams  pipe,
       SCO  XSight  Streams pipe, and ISC Streams pipe, respectively.  You can
       select a single mechanism (e.g.   XLOCAL=NAMED),  or  an  ordered  list
       (e.g.  XLOCAL="NAMED:PTS:SCO").  his variable overrides the compiled-in
       defaults.  For SVR4 it is recommended that NAMED be the  first  prefer-
       ence connection.  The default setting is PTS:NAMED:ISC:SCO.

       To  globally  override the compiled-in defaults, you should define (and
       export if using sh or ksh) XLOCAL globally.  If you  use  startx(1)  or
       xinit(1),  the  definition  should be at the top of your .xinitrc file.
       If  you  use  xdm(1),  the  definitions  should  be  early  on  in  the
       /usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xsession script.

OPTIONS
       Xorg  supports several mechanisms for supplying/obtaining configuration
       and run-time parameters: command line options,  environment  variables,
       the  xorg.conf(5)  configuration  files,  auto-detection,  and fallback
       defaults.  When the same information is supplied in more than one  way,
       the  highest  precedence  mechanism is used.  The list of mechanisms is
       ordered from highest precedence to lowest.  Note that not  all  parame-
       ters  can  be  supplied  via  all  methods.  The available command line
       options and environment variables (and  some  defaults)  are  described
       here and in the Xserver(1) manual page.  Most configuration file param-
       eters, with their defaults, are described in  the  xorg.conf(5)  manual
       page.    Driver   and  module  specific  configuration  parameters  are
       described in the relevant driver or module manual page.

       In addition to the normal server options described  in  the  Xserver(1)
       manual page, Xorg accepts the following command line switches:

       vtXX    XX specifies the Virtual Terminal device number which Xorg will
               use.  Without this option, Xorg will pick the  first  available
               Virtual  Terminal that it can locate.  This option applies only
               to platforms that have virtual terminal support, such as Linux,
               BSD, OpenSolaris, SVR3, and SVR4.

       -allowMouseOpenFail
               Allow  the server to start up even if the mouse device can't be
               opened or  initialised.   This  is  equivalent  to  the  Allow-
               MouseOpenFail xorg.conf(5) file option.

       -allowNonLocalXvidtune
               Make  the  VidMode extension available to remote clients.  This
               allows the xvidtune client to connect from another host.   This
               is  equivalent  to  the AllowNonLocalXvidtune xorg.conf(5) file
               option.  By default non-local connections are not allowed.

       -bgamma value
               Set the blue gamma correction.  value must be between  0.1  and
               10.   The  default  is 1.0.  Not all drivers support this.  See
               also the -gamma, -rgamma, and -ggamma options.

       -bpp n  No longer supported.  Use -depth to set the  color  depth,  and
               use  -fbbpp  if  you  really need to force a non-default frame-
               buffer (hardware) pixel format.

       -config file
               Read the server configuration from file.  This option will work
               for any file when the server is run as root (i.e, with real-uid
               0), or for files relative to a directory in the  config  search
               path for all other users.

       -configdir directory
               Read  the  server  configuration  files  from  directory.  This
               option will work for any directory when the server  is  run  as
               root  (i.e,  with real-uid 0), or for directories relative to a
               directory in the config directory search  path  for  all  other
               users.

       -configure
               When  this option is specified, the Xorg server loads all video
               driver modules, probes for available hardware, and  writes  out
               an  initial xorg.conf(5) file based on what was detected.  This
               option currently has some problems on some  platforms,  but  in
               most  cases  it  is  a  good way to bootstrap the configuration
               process.  This option is only available when the server is  run
               as root (i.e, with real-uid 0).

       -crt /dev/ttyXX
               SCO  only.   This is the same as the vt option, and is provided
               for compatibility with the native SCO X server.

       -depth n
               Sets the default color depth.  Legal values are 1,  4,  8,  15,
               16, and 24.  Not all drivers support all values.

       -disableVidMode
               Disable  the  parts of the VidMode extension (used by the xvid-
               tune client) that can be used to change the video modes.   This
               is  equivalent to the DisableVidModeExtension xorg.conf(5) file
               option.

       -fbbpp n
               Sets the number of framebuffer bits per pixel.  You should only
               set this if you're sure it's necessary; normally the server can
               deduce the correct value from -depth above.  Useful if you want
               to  run  a  depth  24  configuration  with a 24 bpp framebuffer
               rather than the (possibly default) 32 bpp framebuffer (or  vice
               versa).   Legal  values  are 1, 8, 16, 24, 32.  Not all drivers
               support all values.

       -flipPixels
               Swap the default values for the black and white pixels.

       -gamma value
               Set the gamma correction.  value must be between  0.1  and  10.
               The  default is 1.0.  This value is applied equally to the R, G
               and B values.  Those values can be set independently  with  the
               -rgamma, -bgamma, and -ggamma options.  Not all drivers support
               this.

       -ggamma value
               Set the green gamma correction.  value must be between 0.1  and
               10.   The  default  is 1.0.  Not all drivers support this.  See
               also the -gamma, -rgamma, and -bgamma options.

       -ignoreABI
               The Xorg server checks the ABI revision levels of  each  module
               that  it  loads.   It will normally refuse to load modules with
               ABI revisions that  are  newer  than  the  server's.   This  is
               because  such modules might use interfaces that the server does
               not have.  When this option is specified, mismatches like  this
               are  downgraded  from  fatal  errors  to warnings.  This option
               should be used with care.

       -isolateDevice bus-id
               Restrict device resets to the device  at  bus-id.   The  bus-id
               string   has   the   form   bustype:bus:device:function  (e.g.,
               'PCI:1:0:0').  At present, only isolation  of  PCI  devices  is
               supported;  i.e., this option is ignored if bustype is anything
               other than 'PCI'.

       -keeptty
               Prevent the server from detaching its initial controlling  ter-
               minal.   This  option is only useful when debugging the server.
               Not all platforms support (or can use) this option.

       -keyboard keyboard-name
               Use the xorg.conf(5) file InputDevice section called  keyboard-
               name  as  the  core  keyboard.  This option is ignored when the
               Layout section specifies a core keyboard.  In  the  absence  of
               both  a  Layout  section  and  this  option, the first relevant
               InputDevice section is used for the core keyboard.

       -layout layout-name
               Use the xorg.conf(5) file Layout  section  called  layout-name.
               By default the first Layout section is used.

       -logfile filename
               Use  the file called filename as the Xorg server log file.  The
               default log file when running as  root  is  /var/log/Xorg.n.log
               and  for  non root it is $XDG_DATA_HOME/xorg/Xorg.n.log where n
               is the display number of the Xorg server.  The default  may  be
               in  a  different  directory  on some platforms.  This option is
               only available when the server is run as root (i.e, with  real-
               uid 0).

       -logverbose [n]
               Sets  the  verbosity  level for information printed to the Xorg
               server log file.  If the n value isn't  supplied,  each  occur-
               rence  of  this option increments the log file verbosity level.
               When the n value is supplied, the log file verbosity  level  is
               set to that value.  The default log file verbosity level is 3.

       -modulepath searchpath
               Set  the  module  search  path  to searchpath.  searchpath is a
               comma separated list of directories to search for  Xorg  server
               modules.   This option is only available when the server is run
               as root (i.e, with real-uid 0).

       -nosilk Disable Silken Mouse support.

       -novtswitch
               Disable the automatic switching on X server reset and  shutdown
               to the VT that was active when the server started, if supported
               by the OS.

       -pixmap24
               Set the internal pixmap format for depth 24 pixmaps to 24  bits
               per pixel.  The default is usually 32 bits per pixel.  There is
               normally little reason to use this option.  Some client  appli-
               cations don't like this pixmap format, even though it is a per-
               fectly  legal  format.   This  is  equivalent  to  the   Pixmap
               xorg.conf(5) file option.

       -pixmap32
               Set  the internal pixmap format for depth 24 pixmaps to 32 bits
               per pixel.  This is usually the default.  This is equivalent to
               the Pixmap xorg.conf(5) file option.

       -pointer pointer-name
               Use  the  xorg.conf(5) file InputDevice section called pointer-
               name as the core pointer.  This option is ignored when the Lay-
               out section specifies a core pointer.  In the absence of both a
               Layout section and this option, the first relevant  InputDevice
               section is used for the core pointer.

       -quiet  Suppress most informational messages at startup.  The verbosity
               level is set to zero.

       -rgamma value
               Set the red gamma correction.  value must be  between  0.1  and
               10.   The  default  is 1.0.  Not all drivers support this.  See
               also the -gamma, -bgamma, and -ggamma options.

       -sharevts
               Share virtual terminals with another X server, if supported  by
               the OS.

       -screen screen-name
               Use  the  xorg.conf(5)  file Screen section called screen-name.
               By default the screens referenced by the default Layout section
               are  used, or the first Screen section when there are no Layout
               sections.

       -showconfig
               This is the same as the -version option, and  is  included  for
               compatibility  reasons.  It may be removed in a future release,
               so the -version option should be used instead.

       -showDefaultModulePath
               Print out the default module path the server was compiled with.

       -showDefaultLibPath
               Print out the path libraries should be installed to.

       -showopts
               For each driver module installed, print out the list of options
               and their argument types.

       -weight nnn
               Set RGB weighting at 16 bpp.  The default is 565.  This applies
               only to those drivers which support 16 bpp.

       -verbose [n]
               Sets the verbosity level for information printed on stderr.  If
               the  n  value  isn't  supplied,  each occurrence of this option
               increments the verbosity level.  When the n value is  supplied,
               the  verbosity  level  is  set to that value.  The default ver-
               bosity level is 0.

       -version
               Print out the server version,  patchlevel,  release  date,  the
               operating  system/platform  it  was  built  on,  and whether it
               includes module loader support.

KEYBOARD
       The Xorg server is normally configured  to  recognize  various  special
       combinations  of  key  presses that instruct the server to perform some
       action, rather than just sending the key press event to a client appli-
       cation.  These  actions depend on the XKB keymap loaded by a particular
       keyboard device and may or may not be available on a  given  configura-
       tion.

       The  following  key combinations are commonly part of the default XKEY-
       BOARD keymap.

       Ctrl+Alt+Backspace
               Immediately kills the server -- no questions asked. It  can  be
               disabled  by  setting the DontZap xorg.conf(5) file option to a
               TRUE value.

               It should be noted that zapping  is  triggered  by  the  Termi-
               nate_Server action in the keyboard map. This action is not part
               of the default keymaps but can be enabled with the  XKB  option
               "terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp".

       Ctrl+Alt+Keypad-Plus
               Change  video  mode  to next one specified in the configuration
               file.  This can be disabled with the DontZoom xorg.conf(5) file
               option.

       Ctrl+Alt+Keypad-Minus
               Change  video  mode to previous one specified in the configura-
               tion file.  This can be disabled with the DontZoom xorg.conf(5)
               file option.

       Ctrl+Alt+F1...F12
               For systems with virtual terminal support, these keystroke com-
               binations are used to switch to virtual terminals 1 through 12,
               respectively.   This  can  be  disabled  with  the DontVTSwitch
               xorg.conf(5) file option.

CONFIGURATION
       Xorg typically uses a configuration file called xorg.conf and  configu-
       ration  files  with  the suffix .conf in a directory called xorg.conf.d
       for its initial setup.  Refer  to  the  xorg.conf(5)  manual  page  for
       information about the format of this file.

       Xorg has a mechanism for automatically generating a built-in configura-
       tion at run-time when  no  xorg.conf  file  or  xorg.conf.d  files  are
       present.  The current version of this automatic configuration mechanism
       works in two ways.

       The first is via enhancements that have made  many  components  of  the
       xorg.conf  file  optional.   This  means  that  information that can be
       probed or reasonably deduced doesn't need to be  specified  explicitly,
       greatly  reducing the amount of built-in configuration information that
       needs to be generated at run-time.

       The second is to have "safe" fallbacks for most configuration  informa-
       tion.  This maximises the likelihood that the Xorg server will start up
       in some usable configuration even when information about  the  specific
       hardware is not available.

       The  automatic  configuration support for Xorg is work in progress.  It
       is currently aimed at the most popular hardware and software  platforms
       supported by Xorg.  Enhancements are planned for future releases.

FILES
       The  Xorg  server  config  files  can be found in a range of locations.
       These are documented fully in the xorg.conf(5) manual page.   The  most
       commonly used locations are shown here.

       /etc/X11/xorg.conf            Server configuration file.

       /etc/X11/xorg.conf-4          Server configuration file.

       /etc/xorg.conf                Server configuration file.

       /usr/etc/xorg.conf            Server configuration file.

       /usr/lib/X11/xorg.conf        Server configuration file.

       /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d          Server configuration directory.

       /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d-4        Server configuration directory.

       /etc/xorg.conf.d              Server configuration directory.

       /usr/etc/xorg.conf.d          Server configuration directory.

       /usr/lib/X11/xorg.conf.d      Server configuration directory.

       /var/log/Xorg.n.log           Server log file for display n.

       /usr/bin/*                    Client binaries.

       /usr/include/*                Header files.

       /usr/lib/*                    Libraries.

       /usr/share/fonts/X11/*        Fonts.

       /usr/share/X11/XErrorDB       Client error message database.

       /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/*   Client resource specifications.

       /usr/share/man/man?/*         Manual pages.

       /etc/Xn.hosts                 Initial  access  control list for display
                                     n.

SEE ALSO
       X(7), Xserver(1), xdm(1), xinit(1),  xorg.conf(5),  xvidtune(1),  xkey-
       board-config   (7),  apm(4),  ati(4),  chips(4),  cirrus(4),  cyrix(4),
       fbdev(4), glide(4), glint(4),  i128(4),  i740(4),  imstt(4),  intel(4),
       mga(4),  neomagic(4),  nsc(4),  nv(4),  openchrome (4), r128(4), rendi-
       tion(4), s3virge(4), siliconmotion(4), sis(4),  sunbw2(4),  suncg14(4),
       suncg3(4), suncg6(4), sunffb(4), sunleo(4), suntcx(4), tdfx(4), tga(4),
       trident(4), tseng(4), v4l(4), vesa(4), vmware(4),
       Web site <http://www.x.org>.


AUTHORS
       Xorg has many contributors world wide.  The names of most of  them  can
       be  found in the documentation, ChangeLog files in the source tree, and
       in the actual source code.

       Xorg was originally based on XFree86 4.4rc2.  That was originally based
       on  X386  1.2 by Thomas Roell, which was contributed to the then X Con-
       sortium's X11R5 distribution by SGCS.

       Xorg is released by the X.Org Foundation.

       The project that became XFree86 was originally founded in 1992 by David
       Dawes, Glenn Lai, Jim Tsillas and David Wexelblat.

       XFree86  was  later integrated in the then X Consortium's X11R6 release
       by a group of dedicated XFree86 developers, including the following:

           Stuart Anderson    anderson@metrolink.com
           Doug Anson         danson@lgc.com
           Gertjan Akkerman   akkerman@dutiba.twi.tudelft.nl
           Mike Bernson       mike@mbsun.mlb.org
           Robin Cutshaw      robin@XFree86.org
           David Dawes        dawes@XFree86.org
           Marc Evans         marc@XFree86.org
           Pascal Haible      haible@izfm.uni-stuttgart.de
           Matthieu Herrb     Matthieu.Herrb@laas.fr
           Dirk Hohndel       hohndel@XFree86.org
           David Holland      davidh@use.com
           Alan Hourihane     alanh@fairlite.demon.co.uk
           Jeffrey Hsu        hsu@soda.berkeley.edu
           Glenn Lai          glenn@cs.utexas.edu
           Ted Lemon          mellon@ncd.com
           Rich Murphey       rich@XFree86.org
           Hans Nasten        nasten@everyware.se
           Mark Snitily       mark@sgcs.com
           Randy Terbush      randyt@cse.unl.edu
           Jon Tombs          tombs@XFree86.org
           Kees Verstoep      versto@cs.vu.nl
           Paul Vixie         paul@vix.com
           Mark Weaver        Mark_Weaver@brown.edu
           David Wexelblat    dwex@XFree86.org
           Philip Wheatley    Philip.Wheatley@ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM
           Thomas Wolfram     wolf@prz.tu-berlin.de
           Orest Zborowski    orestz@eskimo.com

       Xorg source is available from the FTP  server  <ftp://ftp.x.org/>,  and
       from  the X.Org server <http://gitweb.freedesktop.org/>.  Documentation
       and  other  information  can  be  found  from  the   X.Org   web   site
       <http://www.x.org/>.


LEGAL
       Xorg is copyright software, provided under licenses that permit modifi-
       cation and redistribution in source and binary form without fee.   Xorg
       is  copyright  by  numerous  authors  and  contributors from around the
       world.  Licensing  information  can  be  found  at  <http://www.x.org>.
       Refer to the source code for specific copyright notices.

       XFree86(TM) is a trademark of The XFree86 Project, Inc.

       X11(TM) and X Window System(TM) are trademarks of The Open Group.



X Version 11                  xorg-server 1.16.4                       Xorg(1)
