X Configuration using anXious

If you choose the X Window System from the task packages, then anXious will be used to try to configure your X packages.

Probe X Hardware? This is a new addition to the Debian installation process and it doesn't always get everything correct. You may still need to run xf86Setup or one of the other X configuration programs in order to get a proper configuration file. It is still worth the effort to run through these configuration steps, so you probably want anXious to probe your hardware and try to figure things out. For that reason simply press ENTER here and allow the script to continue. If everything goes well, a screen like the following is presented:

Hardware Detected If the actual words on the screen don't make a lot of sense and major subject material seems to be missing (like the name of the server) then this step probably failed and there will be more involved in the configuration of X than this simple tool can provide.

Whatever the results of this screen, the only option is to press ENTER as there is only the <Ok> button available to press. The next screen presented is the font selection screen.

Font Selection Use the arrow keys to move up and down the list, the space bar to toggle the selection of any element under the cursor, and TAB to the <Ok> button when the selections are correct. The next screen provides multiple choices for terminal emulators to use in the X Window System.

Terminal Selection More than one emulator may be chosen, and the xterm, although not visible because it is off the bottom of the window, has already been selected. You can scroll down the selection window with the arrow keys or the scroll bar on the left hand side of the screen, but unless you want another terminal emulator in addition to xterm, simply TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER. This very similar screen allows for the choice of additional window managers.

Window Manager Selection The default selection is twm (visible farther down the list). The other choices not visible in the window are: flwm, flvwm, flvwm1, flvwm95, gwm, icewm, icewm-gnome, lwm, olvwm, olwm, qvwm, sawmill, scwm, twm, xtwm, wm2, and wmaker

Choose as many as you wish from this extensive list, then TAB to the <Ok> button to continue on to the next step. This next screen offers to install the xdm server manager.

Install xdm? Even if you eventually want the services of xdm this install should probably be put off. You can easily install it once you have X working to your satisfaction, and waiting will keep it from getting in the way of debugging your configuration.

The default is <No> so unless you really want to install xdm now just press ENTER to move to the next step. Here is where you select your mouse type.

Mouse Type Selection If you have a standard serial mouse, then choose 2: Microsoft. Any other choice should be specifically shown on the list. Select your mouse type using the arrow keys to move the cursor and the space bar to toggle the selection. When you have the correct type identified in the list, TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER to continue. Next you are asked about emulating the third button.

Three Buttons? If your mouse only has two buttons then the only way to get some window managers to provide all of their features will be to emulate the third button. If this is the case, simply press ENTER to accept this and move on to the next screen. This screen asks that you declare a device for the mouse.

Mouse Device Selection This is the device that the X server will use to obtain mouse actions. If you have gpm installed then you will definitely want to enter the mouse as /dev/gpmdata rather than the actual tty device where the mouse is connected. This is because gpm already has access to the physical port so X can't get to the device. PS/2 mice get the /dev/psaux device, and if you are not using gpm the mouse on the first serial port gets /dev/ttyS0 as its device. Once you have the correct device, press ENTER to accept this value and move on to the next screen. Even though you already told the installation program what kind off keyboard you have, anXious wants to know this information again. The following screen asks that you select your keyboard from the list provided.

Keyboard Type Selection The other keyboard extensions not visible in the above window are: French, Thai, Swiss/German, Swiss/French, US/International, Brazilian, disable, and none.

Arrow up and down the list, or use the slide bar on the left to move the list within the window to see more entries. Press space to select the item under the cursor and TAB to the <Ok> button when you have made your choice. Now we get to the important stuff. This screen presents a selection of monitor horizontal sync ranges for you to choose from. As the screen implies, this is an important decision so have the correct values for your monitor ready when you get to this screen.

Monitor Horizontal Sync Again, all the values available are not visible on the screen, but can be viewed by scrolling down the screen using the arrow keys or the provided scroll bar. The additional values available on the list are: 1024x760 60Hz, 800x600 72HZ, 1024x768 70Hz, 1280x1024 60Hz, 1280x1024 74Hz, 1280x1024 76Ha, or custom.

custom is not recommended unless you really know what you are doing. Placing an excessive value in the config using the custom option can very easily damage your monitor.

Choose a good value then TAB and ENTER to move on. This screen expects the value for the vertical sync range of you monitor.

Monitor Vertical Sync All of the possible values are visible in the window, so arrow down to the entry that describes your monitor's vertical sync rate, and press the space to select. Then TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER. This next screen asks for a string to identify your monitor.

Monitor Name Specification This has no technical impact on the configuration of the X server, but will identify the monitor that has been configured. Replace the default string with something that more appropriately identifies your particular monitor. Simply press ENTER to accept the value you have typed. The next screen deals with the amount of graphics card memory.

Graphics Card Memory Since the card has already been probed, an item has already been selected. This is the amount of memory that the software thinks is available on your card. Unless you have some reason to believe that this is in error, simply TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER. If you must change this value, use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the correct item and press space to select that value. Then TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER. Next your video card needs a name.

Video Card Name Specification Replace the default string with one which identifies the video card being configured. Press ENTER to accept this value and move on to the next screen. Next is the choice of clockchip.

Clock Chip Specification Unless you know specifically that your card has and uses a particular clockchip, the most likely response here is none. Otherwise scroll down to the correct value and press space to select that item. The following items are available in the non-visible portion of the list: ICS5341, S3 GenDac 86C708 or ICS5300, S3 SDAC 86C716, STD 1703, Sierra SC11412, TI 3025, TI 3026, and IBM RGB 51x/52x.

Whatever your choice, once you have made it, TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER to accept the item chosen and move to the next screen. Next is the request to probe for clock information.

Probe for Clock Information? Unless you are certain that your graphics card will need this information, accept the default value of <No> by simply pressing ENTER. If you wish to probe for clock information TAB to the <Yes> button and press ENTER. Here we have the color depth selection screen.

Color Depth Selection 8bpp is already checked as the default, so unless you need a different color depth, just TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER.

All of the values available are visible in the window, so just use the arrow keys to move to the item on the list you desire, and press space to select that item. Then TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER. Use this screen to choose the default resolution.

Default Resolution Selection Your card may support several different resolutions. Here is where you decide which of these available resolutions will be used upon initial start-up of the X server. In addition to those values visible on the screen the values: 1153x864, 1280x960, and 1600x1200, are also available if you scroll down the window with the arrow keys or the scroll bar on the left. When you have selected the item you desire, by pressing the space bar, press TAB to move to the <Ok> button and press ENTER to move on to the next screen. This screen looks just like the last one!

Usable Resolutions Selection While it looks the same, it has a different purpose. Here you can choose as many different items as your monitor and video card will support. Each of these resolutions will then be available from the server. Pressing the ALT key at the same time as the control key, and either the plus or the minus key will cycle through these resolutions modes.

Use the arrow keys or the scroll bar on the left of the screen to move up and down the list. Select those resolutions to include by pressing the space bar. When all desired items have been selected, TAB to the <Ok> button and press ENTER to continue to the next screen. Next we may choose the location of the configuration file.

Location of Config X servers use this file to configure themselves at start-up. Unless you have some compelling reason to move the file somewhere else, the default value provided in the field is the correct place to put this file. All you need do is press ENTER to accept this value. The next screen is an information screen, telling you that the X configuration is complete and giving some additional sources of information about how to configure your X servers.

anXious Conclusion You have no choice here but to press <Ok>. Do so by pressing ENTER and the X configuration is complete.