The final configuration step consists
of selecting the video modes that you want to include in your XF86Config
file. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor up and down the list under
each color depth (8, 16 and 24 bit). Use the [Spacebar] to select
individual resolutions and the [Tab] key to move between color depth
fields. When you have selected the video modes you want to use move the
cursor to the ``OK'' button and press [Enter], or use the [F12]
shortcut. An information screen will give you the most current information
on selecting video modes, starting and stopping the X server.
If you selected the ``X Window System'' component when you installed
Red Hat Linux, but didn't choose to start X automatically when the system boots,
you're all set. All you'll need to do is to get X running. As it turns
out, there are two ways to do this. You can:
- Start X manually after you log in.
- Start X automatically whenever the system boots.
Let's start with the manual procedure.
Red Hat Linux, during the installation, gives you the option of starting X automatically. If you didn't choose this option, you'll see the character-cell login prompt you saw when you first
booted your Red Hat Linux system.
In order to get X started, you'll first need to log in. Do so (using your
non-root account), and then enter the startx command. The screen
should go blank, and (after a short delay) you should see a graphical
desktop with one or more windows. The appearance of the desktop you'll see
will vary, depending on the packages you installed and other variables. (See Chapter 1 for more info.)
Please Note: Make sure you verify that your X configuration works properly
before making X start automatically. Failure to do so can make it
difficult to log into your Red Hat Linux system. If you haven't done so already,
review the previous section before continuing.
It is possible to configure your Red Hat Linux system such that X will start
automatically whenever the system is booted. When configured in this
manner, xdm will run, which will present a graphically-oriented login
screen. After logging in, you will have a regular X session running, just
as if you had issued a startx command manually.
Here's a quick overview of how it's done:
- Test xdm using telinit.
- Edit /etc/inittab.
- Reboot.
Let's look at each step in more detail.
Testing xdm Using telinit
-- The telinit
command is used to change your Red Hat Linux system's ``run level.'' It is the
run level that controls various aspects of system operation, including
whether xdm should be started or not. Since xdm is started at
run level 5, you'll need to issue the command:
/sbin/telinit 5
Please Note: You will need to be logged in as root in order to use
telinit. Also note that you should not be running anything
else on your Red Hat Linux system when you change run levels, as any running
programs may be killed by the run level change.
If everything is configured properly, after a short delay you should see an
xdm login screen. Log in, verifying that an X desktop appears. Then
log out to make sure that xdm reappears. If it does, your system is
configured properly to automatically start X. If there are problems, you
can go back to run level 3 using telinit (ie, ``/sbin/telinit
3''), or by rebooting.
Editing /etc/inittab
-- The file /etc/inittab is
used to, among other things, determine the system's default run level. We
need to change the default run level from 3 to 5; therefore, we'll need to
edit /etc/inittab. Using the text editor of your choice, change this
line in /etc/inittab:
id:3:initdefault:
When you're done, it should look like this:
id:5:initdefault:
Please Note: Make sure you change only the number 3 to be
5! Do not change anything else, otherwise your Red Hat Linux system may not
boot at all! When you've made the change, exit the editor, and use this
command to review your handiwork:
less /etc/inittab
(Press the [Space] to page through the file; [Q] will exit.)
If everything looks OK, it's time to reboot. Use the shutdown
command to properly shut down your system, and you're done!
Note that even if you're running X, you still have access to the regular
character-cell user interface. That's because Red Hat Linux uses virtual
consoles while X is running. To switch to a virtual console, press
[Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Fn], where [Fn] is any one of
the first six function keys. When switching virtual consoles, you should
see a standard login prompt; at this point you can login and use the system
normally on any (or all) of the virtual consoles.
When you'd like to go back to your X session, simply press
[Ctrl]-[Alt]-[F7].
Please Note: Some people remap keys under X; if you do this, be aware that
your X keyboard mappings will only be active when in X. This can be
confusing if, for example, you've swapped the [Ctrl] and [Caps
Lock] keys under X, as you will have to use two different keystrokes to
switch between X and non-X virtual consoles.
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