When using XFree86 v3.3.x, what software installation may be required when changing to a different video chipset, and why?

Describe how the location of fonts is conveyed to the XFree86 X server.

How is the use of a font server different from the use of a font path?

Which file controls access to xdm by remote X terminals?

Describe the function of xinit.

Compare and contrast a window manager, a desktop environment, and an X server.

Name the three components of the DISPLAY environment variable.

From http://safari.informit.com/www.xfree86.org, obtain XFree86 in the precompiled binary form for your system using the instructions found in Chapter 18. Start with the Xinstall.sh script and run it with ./Xinstall.sh -check to determine which package to get.

Back up your old installation ( /etc/X11 and /usr/X11R6 ). Install the new version using Xinstall.sh as directed in the instructions accompanying the package.

Use xf86config to configure the new X server. Are you able to get an X display? Is the resolution correct?

Try generating the X configuration using XF86Setup or xf86cfg (depending on the X version). Is the program successful? Does it yield a working X configuration?

Obtain a new Type 1 font from the Internet (try a search at http://www.google.com/ or your favorite search engine). Add the font to /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local and use the mkfontdir utility on that directory. Verify that the local font directory is in the font path. Restart X and use xfontsel to view the new font. Was the font added correctly?

Configure xfs as described in Chapter 18, and remove the FontPath statements from XF86Config, substituting unix/:-1. Start the font server and restart the X server. Using xfontsel, are you able to verify the availability of the same fonts as were available before?

Start xdm on your system, and note that the system starts the X server and presents a login prompt. If all works correctly, change the default runlevel to that which starts xdm and reboot. Does the system now present a graphical login screen?

Examine the scripts and programs used on your system for starting X, beginning with startx. Look for how the system uses files in the user's home directory to control GUI startup.

Examine your window manager configuration. Which window manager are you using? Is it part of a desktop environment, such as KDE or GNOME? Determine where its menus are configured and add an item or two to the menus.