Software: Installing XFree86 from source


Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Software: Installing XFree86 from source

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 1999
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    39,307

    Software: Installing XFree86 from source

    Note: The lines starting with '>' are the actual commands you need to type at the commandline (do not type > as part of the command). You will need to be root to install XFree86.

    > cd /

    > mkdir xsource-4.3

    Download

    X430src-1.tgz required source
    X430src-2.tgz required source
    X430src-3.tgz required source
    X430src-4.tgz fonts
    X430src-5.tgz fonts
    X430src-6.tgz doc spec source
    X430src-7.tgz doc spec hardcopy

    from ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/4.3.0/source

    to

    /xsource-4.3

    Type

    > init 3

    to go to console mode or reboot into single user mode

    Backup existing installation of XFree

    > cd /
    > mkdir xbackup
    > cp /usr/X11R6 /xbackup -Rr
    > cp /etc/X11 /xbackup -Rr

    > cd /xsource-4.3

    Type the following to extract the .tgz packages

    > find . -name "*tgz" -exec tar zxvf {} \;

    When the extraction of the 7 tgz files has completed

    Compiling XFree86 4.3

    > cd xc

    > make World >& world.log

    This will take quite a while

    When this step has completed, check for any errors

    > tail -n 50 world.log

    If no errors, then continue

    > make install >& install.log

    Wnen this step has completed, check for any errors

    > tail -n 50 install.log

    If no error, then continue

    > make install.man >& man.log

    Wnen this step has completed, check for any errors

    > tail -n 50 man.log

    Check to see if link exists

    > cd /usr/X11R6/bin

    > ls -l X

    If not symlinked to XFree86, then create link

    > ln -sf /usr/X11R6/bin/XFree86 ./X

    Now you may need to reconfigure X

    > XFree86 -configure

    Run the configuration program that will probe and/or guess all your settings.

    This will create a new conf in the root directory.
    To test this new configuration, run this command:

    > XFree86 -xf86config /root/XF86Config.new

    This will display a grey hatch with an 'X' for the mouse cursor.

    If this works fine, hit CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE to return to the commandline.

    Copy this file to the /etc/X11/ directory using this command:

    > cp /root/XF86Config.new /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

    This may not work correctly as further configuration will need to be done.

    > xf86cfg

    If errors such as library not found when running xf86cfg, then do the following

    > ldconfig

    as it should fix the library not found errors. Hopefully...

    > xf86cfg

    This creates the same XF86Config.new file, so to test it, follow the same steps as before.

    > XFree86 -xf86config /root/XF86Config.new

    > cp /root/XF86Config.new /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

    Once setup correctly, type

    > init 5

    to go back to graphical mode or reboot if booted into single user mode.
    SEARCH FIRST... ASK SECOND Read the JL 'Community Help Posting Guidelines' before posting in the forums.

    Precompiled Redhat NTFS Modules

    Linuxplanet Tutorials

    If Linux doesn't have the solution, you have the wrong problem. ... Please do not send me a PM asking for help...

    Please read the search suggestion thread in JL Ideas

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    14,936
    We might want to add a bit to this one, between "cd xc" and "make World >& world.log". It would be good to mention that the user can copy config/cf/xf86site.def to config/cf/host.def, then edit it to customize the resulting X installation. For example, if they already have Freetype installed, they can link X against the installed Freetype rather than building the included version. I don't remember what the option is, but it's in there somewhere.

    For this one, a link to the BLFS book might be good too (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs), since it has a full section on X and its dependencies. But whatever.

    (Mike -- when you decide whether or not to change this stuff, go ahead and delete this post, since it doesn't belong in the final how-to thread. )

    Oh -- might want to add a comment to the first line, too. Something like:

    "The lines starting with '>' are the actual commands ... Do not type the '>' character."

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •