XFree 4.2 server DIY (chrooted env)
Hi,
I recently bought a MSI MS-6368 mainboard, and although Xfree 4.1 does
support the Trident Microsystems CyberBlade/i1, it is somewhat flaky
(see below). So, I wanted to try out Xfree 4.2.
I did not want to install XFree 4.2 the way XFree suggests
(mv /usr/X11R6 backup; install new in /usr/X11R6), as I was
afraid Debian wouldn't like it (Debian also installs it stuff in /usr/X11R6,
so things may brake).
So, I decided to try to install XFree 4.2 in a little chroot-ed environment,
where the installation will not harm my (new!) debian system.
I wanted to _only_ install the server part of XFree 4.2, all the
client binaries I'll use from my Debian system (they work fine, anyway).
So, I want the XFree 4.2 server to contact my Debian 4.1 XDM daemon.
As there seem to be some people who want Debian to have 4.2, I decided
to post to the list what I did (as at least one step wasn't fully obvious),
I decided to post what I did to the list.
Well, in words:
1 Get Xxserv.tgz, Xmod.tgz, Xlib.tgz (the latter only needed if you want
anything other than a black/white system) from
ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/4.2.0/binaries/Linux-ix86-glibc22/
(depending on your system etc)
2 create a directory, with copies of your /etc, /dev, /bin, /lib
root-directories (simlinks won't do, I'm sure you can leave out
most of the files in the dirs, but I didn't want to find out what).
3 create usr/X11R6, and unpack the X*.tgz files in here, downloaded in
step 1
make a symlink usr/bin/X111 -> /usr/X11R6/bin
4 **
create tmp (mkdir tmp; chmod a+rwx tmp; chmod o+t tmp)
and in your ROOT dir, do
mv /tmp /tmp-old
ln -s $YOUR_XFREE_CHROOT_DIR/tmp /tmp
5 On the main system, startup xfs (apt-get install xfs, remove
the `no-listen = tcp' line in /etc/X11/fs/config),
and install xdm and activate it
(easiest way is to add a "*" line in /etc/X11/xdm/Xaccess),
and maybe remove those pesky `no tcp' lines from xdm too.
6 chroot $YOUR_XFREE_CHROOT_DIR
X -query 127.0.0.1
Ready.
Or, for those who understand sh better (step 5 above you still need to do)
------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/bash
set -e
set -x
cd /home/joostje/rommel
rm -rf Xtest
mkdir Xtest
cd Xtest
mkdir -p usr/X11R6
mkdir usr/bin
ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin usr/bin/X11
mkdir -p var/log
for f in dev bin lib etc; do
echo Copying $f
cp -a /$f . || true
done
mkdir tmp
chmod a+rwx tmp
chmod o+t tmp
for f in Xxserv.tgz Xmod.tgz Xlib.tgz; do
echo unpacking $f
#cp ../Xfree4.2.0/$f .
wget ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/4.2.0/binaries/Linux-ix86-glibc22/$f
zcat $f | (cd usr/X11R6; tar -xf -)
done
#Here, I copy a modified XF86Config file:
#cp /home/joostje/rommel/Xfree4.2.0/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 etc/X11
mv /tmp /tmp-tmp
ln -s `pwd`/tmp /tmp
------------------------------------------------------------
(and now, `chroot Xtest`, and `X -query 127.0.0.1`)
------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, more on why I needed Xfree4.2 for my MSI MS-6368
Trident Microsystems CyberBlade/i1:
- I couldn't go back to VC mode with 4.1. Whenever I pressed
Alt_Cntr F1, the screen would go into power-save mode,
and X wouldn't revive from it (well, I could go back to VC1,
and restart X from there, but my old X session died).
- Every now and then, the mouse pointer would be drawn about 50
pixels to the right of where the click-action would be. Very
annoying, and even restarting X wouldn't work. I had to actually
reboot the computer to get rid of it.
- XFree 4.1 didn't like lines like
Option "SWCursor" "true"
Option "NoAccel" "true"
in the "DEVICE" Secion in XF86Config-4. Whenever I met one of them,
X wouldn't start, screen would go into power-save mode.
XFree 4.2 did like those lines, and, using the "SWCursor" option,
my mouse-action now is where the mouse pointer actually
shows. Very convenient!
Also, it seems XFree 4.2 likes higher video resolutions. I don't know
why, but it automatically elected a much higer resolution, from
an identical XF86Config-4 file.
Hoping to be of some use to someone out there, and hoping
not to start a flame-ware (it's about xfree 4.2 after all),
joostje
--
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-request@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org
Reply to: