Xorg: Difference between revisions

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[https://www.x.org/wiki/ Xorg] is an open source implementation of the X Window Systemx. It used to be the de-facto standard way to launch graphical applications. Its recent alternative is [[Wayland]]
[https://www.x.org/wiki/ Xorg] is an open source implementation of the X Window System. It used to be the de-facto standard way to launch graphical applications. [[Wayland]] is its recent alternative. [https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/wayback/wayback Wayback] is a X11 compatibility layer which allows for running full X11 desktop environments using Wayland components.


== Installation ==
== Installation ==
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The above command installs the following packages {{pkg|xorg-server}}, {{pkg|xf86-input-libinput}}, {{pkg|xinit}}, {{pkg|eudev}}, {{pkg|mesa-dri-gallium}} and Sets up [[Include:Setup Device Manager|eudev]]
The above command installs the following packages {{pkg|xorg-server}}, {{pkg|xf86-input-libinput}}, {{pkg|xinit}}, {{pkg|eudev}}, {{pkg|mesa-dri-gallium}} and Sets up [[Include:Setup Device Manager|eudev]]


Install appropriate [[Graphics driver|graphics drivers]] for your hardware and atleast one X11 based [[Desktop environments and Window managers|desktop]] before proceeding further.
Install atleast one X11 based [[Desktop environments and Window managers|desktop]] before proceeding further.


== Configuration ==
== Configuration ==
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If [[D-Bus#Installation|D-Bus]] is installed and enabled along with {{pkg|cwm}} desktop, the {{Path|~/.xinitrc}} file should be as follows:{{Cat|~/.xinitrc|exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session cwm}}
If [[D-Bus#Installation|D-Bus]] is installed and enabled along with {{pkg|cwm}} desktop, the {{Path|~/.xinitrc}} file should be as follows:{{Cat|~/.xinitrc|exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session cwm}}
=== Start session ===


Xorg sessions can be started via [[Display_manager|display manager]] or manually with command: {{Cmd|$ startx }}
Xorg sessions can be started via [[Display_manager|display manager]] or manually with command: {{Cmd|$ startx }}


=== Legacy X11 video drivers ===
== Video drivers ==
{{Main|Graphics driver}}
Most basic X features should work fine with just using the default kernel video-modesetting drivers. Install specific xf86 driver packages for your legacy video card's chipset, so they may support specific features, effects and acceleration modes, and avoid error messages during X initialization.
 
{{Tip| xf86 driver packages follow standard naming conventions. So information found in  [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg#Driver_installation ArchWiki], or [https://packages.gentoo.org/categories/x11-drivers Gentoo wiki] are to a large degree, also applicable to configuring the video hardware on Alpine Linux, except for proprietary drivers which are not available.}}
 
To see available xf86 video driver packages run: {{cmd|$ apk search xf86-video}}


* For Sis video chipset install {{pkg|xf86-video-sis}}
Most basic X features should work fine with just using the default [[#Kernel Modesetting|kernel video-modesetting]] drivers. For better performance or in case of errors, install legacy [[Xf86 Video]] drivers or [[Graphics driver|graphics drivers]].
* For VMware guests use {{pkg|xf86-video-vmware}}
* For VirtualBox guests use {{pkg|xf86-video-vboxvideo}}. Refer [[VirtualBox_guest_additions|VirtualBox guest additions]]
* For Hyper-V guests use {{pkg|xf86-video-fbdev}}. Refer [[Hyper-V_guest_services|Hyper-V guest services]].
* For KVM/QEMU guests refer [[QEMU#Using_Xorg_inside_Qemu|Xorg within QEMU]]


== Input packages ==
== Input packages ==

Latest revision as of 06:55, 23 July 2025

Xorg is an open source implementation of the X Window System. It used to be the de-facto standard way to launch graphical applications. Wayland is its recent alternative. Wayback is a X11 compatibility layer which allows for running full X11 desktop environments using Wayland components.

Installation

Xorg can be installed automatically by running the setup-xorg-base script as follows:

# setup-xorg-base

The above command installs the following packages xorg-server, xf86-input-libinput, xinit, eudev, mesa-dri-gallium and Sets up eudev

Install atleast one X11 based desktop before proceeding further.

Configuration

You may also want per-user configuration. Create the ~/.xinitrc file to start the window manager with startx or xinit. If you installed cwm desktop, the ~/.xinitrc file should be as follows:

Contents of ~/.xinitrc

exec cwm

If D-Bus is installed and enabled along with cwm desktop, the ~/.xinitrc file should be as follows:

Contents of ~/.xinitrc

exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session cwm

Xorg sessions can be started via display manager or manually with command:

$ startx

Video drivers

Most basic X features should work fine with just using the default kernel video-modesetting drivers. For better performance or in case of errors, install legacy Xf86 Video drivers or graphics drivers.

Input packages

You probably at least want xf86-input-libinput or xf86-input-evdev. The former is for Wayland with wrapper for Xorg and is installed by the setup-xorg-base script. The xf86-input-evdev package is Xorg only.

For touchpad tapping support on many laptops:

# apk add xf86-input-synaptics

If the Numlock settings are not working, or getting 'setleds not found' errors:

# apk add kbd

If some input device is not working at all, the available xf86-input drivers can be listed with:

$ apk search xf86-input

The following legacy drivers are not packaged at least as of 2/2022:

  • xf86-input-mouse
  • xf86-input-keyboard

Configure xorg-server (optional)

On most systems, xorg should be able to autodetect all devices. However you can still configure xorg-server by hand by launching:

# Xorg -configure

This will create a /root/xorg.conf.new file. You can modify this file to fit your needs. When finished modifying and testing the above configuration file, move it to /etc/X11/xorg.conf for normal usage.

Keyboard Layout (optional)

If you use a keyboard layout different than "us", and you are using a window manager or desktop environment that does not support to configure the keyboard layout itself, then you need to install setxkbmap package:

# apk add setxkbmap

Then try

# setxkbmap <%a language layout from /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst%>

In order to make it persistent add this section to /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

Section "InputClass" Identifier "Keyboard Default" MatchIsKeyboard "yes" Option "XkbLayout" "<%a language layout from /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst%>" EndSection

Another way to change the keymap when logging into X is to use ~/.xinitrc. The following example loads a British keymap, simply add this line to the beginning of the file as follows :

Contents of ~/.xinitrc

setxkbmap gb & ...

See also