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location for configuration by manually editing the text. This requires skill — and often trial-and-error — to see what setting works best. However, there are several different options for configuring the file, which are separated into different sections. These sections are shown in Table 6-5.

The xf86config file is a long file that must be edited in several locations in order to function correctly. This is why the GUI, Command Line, and Shell tools have evolved to the point that manual configuration is seldom — if ever — used to configure an X Window System. However, manually editing or using the XF86Config program can be an exceptionally efficient way for the experienced administrator to configure the X Window System.

Documentation

3.14 Document the installation of the operating system, including configuration

Whether you choose a GUI, Command Line, or Shell Tool to configure the X Window System, the selected settings should be clearly documented, as should the hardware used. The following information should be included in this documentation:

Monitor make and model

Vertical refresh rate of the monitor

Horizontal sync rate of the monitor

Resolution capabilities of the monitor

Color depth capabilities of the monitor

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Video card make and model

Video card Chipset

Video card RAMDAC

Video card available memory

Video card ClockChip

XF86 version

XF86 setup program used

Resolutions selected

Color depth selected

Mouse type selected

Video card selected

Monitor selected

These are most of the settings that should be documented; of course, any other configurations made during the configuration of the X Window System should also be documented.

Know the information that is required for video card and monitor selection during the installation and configuration of the X Window System.

Summary

This chapter explains many of the basics of the X Window System. This task can be broken down into three areas:

Preparation

•Monitor hardware information

•Video card hardware information

•Planned display settings and window manager

Configuration

•Select GUI, text, or custom X Window System configuration program

•Select mouse type

•Select monitor type

•Select video card type

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•Configure the settings

•Test the settings

Documentation

•Monitor make and model

•Vertical refresh rate of the monitor

•Horizontal sync rate of the monitor

•Resolution capabilities of the monitor

•Color depth capabilities of the monitor

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STUDY GUIDE

The Study Guide section provides you with the opportunity to test your knowledge about the Linux+ exam objectives that are covered in this chapter. The Assessment Questions provide practice for the real exam, and the Scenarios provide practice with real situations. If you get any questions wrong, use the answers to determine the part of the chapter that you should review before continuing.

Assessment Questions

1.Which organization controls the official releases and updates of the X Window System?

A.www.x.org

B.www.xfree86.org

C.www.linux.org

D.www.mit.edu

2.Which part of the X Window System controls the hardware?

A.X Client

B.X Server

C.X Protocol

D.Window manager

3.Which part of the X Window System controls the internal communications?

A.X Client

B.X Server

C.X Protocol

D.Window manager

4.Which part of the X Window System provides the user interface?

A.X Client

B.X Server

C.X Protocol

D.Window manager

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5.Which part of the X Window System controls software application requests?

A.X Client

B.X Server

C.X Protocol

D.Window manager

6.What are the major advantages/disadvantages of the X Window System for network usage? (Choose all that apply.)

A.Local and remote computing are actually the same to the user and developer

B.Applications don’t suffer a performance penalty when used locally or remotely

C.Local and remote computing are actually controlled differently for the user and the developer

D.Applications do suffer a performance penalty when used locally or remotely

7.Which of the following use the Common Object Request Broker Architecture?

A.KDE

B.GNOME

C.Enlightenment

D.Sawfish

8.Which window manager does KDE use by default?

A.Enlightenment

B.Sawfish

C.KWin

D.Blackbox

9.Which of the following is a command line-based setup program for the X Window System?

A.XF86Setup

B.XF86Config

C.SetupXF86

D.Xconfigurator

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10.Where is the .xinitrc usually stored on a Linux system?

A./etc/X11R6/bin/

B./var/X11R6/bin/

C./lib/X11R6/bin/

D./usr/X11R6/bin/

11.What is the default physical location of the mouse when using XF86Config?

A./dev/mouse

B./dev/psaux

C./dev/ttys0

D./dev/tsmo

12.Which of the following customized X Window System configuration programs are included with distributions of Linux? (Choose all that apply.)

A.Xconfigurator

B.XF86Setup

C.Sax2

D.XDrake

13.Which file can be manually edited to adjust the X Window System configuration?

A./usr/X11R6/bin/.xinitrc

B./etc/X11/XF86Config

C./etc/X11/.xinitrc

D./usr/X11R6/bin/XF86Config

14.What is “X” a symbolic link to?

A.X Client

B.X Server

C.xinitrc

D.XF86Config

15.Which of the makes use the QT programming toolkit?

A.GNOME

B.KDE

C.Enlightenment

D.Blackbox

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16.What program, included with GNOME, provides a word processing application?

A.KWord

B.AbiWord

C.Word

D.WordPerfect

17.What program, included with KDE, provides graphic manipulation?

A.Photoshop

B.GIMP

C.Krayon

D.Konqueror

18.Which of the following is part of the GNU project?

A.KDE

B.GNOME

C.XFce

D.Sawfish

19.Which of the following should be documented when installing a monitor with the X Window System? (Choose all that apply.)

A.Horizontal sync

B.ClockChip

C.RAMDAC

D.Vertical refresh rate

20.Which of the following should be documented when installing a video card with the X Window System? (Choose all that apply.)

A.Horizontal sync

B.ClockChip

C.RAMDAC

D.Vertical refresh rate