6.3 X Window Configuration with Metro-X

By special arrangement, a license to install a single copy of the Metro-X enhanced X server is included with the Official Red Hat Linux/Intel CD. Please note that, unlike the XFree86 server (also included), Metro-X is commercially licensed software. You should review and accept its license terms before installing it. Metro-X supports many video cards that are not supported by XFree86. The configuration utility can be run in graphical mode (configX) or text mode (configX.curses).

6.3.1 System Requirements

6.3.2 configX.curses

The opening screen has information on Metro Link, Inc. and brief instructions on what you will need to configure Metro-X. Press the Enter key to begin the configuration. The screen will display the current configuration information at the top and the configuration menu at the bottom. Use the arrow keys to move the highlight up and down the menu and the [Enter] key to select the highlighted item.

6.3.2.1 Graphics Card

When you select Graphics Card from the configuration menu, a list of supported cards will be displayed. Select your video card as above. After selecting your video card you will be asked to select a video mode from a list of defaults. The resolution used is a matter of personal preference. The smaller the numbers are the larger the items on the display will be. Some combinations of video cards and video modes support virtual screens larger than the physical display. If your combination is one of these, you will be asked to select the virtual screen size.

6.3.2.2 Mouse

Configuring your mouse with Metro-X requires that you know what type of mouse you have and how it is connected to your computer. When you select a mouse type, the default device will be provided in the configuration window. If you are in doubt, accept the default and make adjustments later if needed.

6.3.2.3 Exiting

Selecting Save and Exit from the menu will save any changes you have made to the Metro-X configuration and exit the configX.curses program.

Selecting Quit without Saving from the menu will discard any changes you have made to the Metro-X configuration and exit the configX.curses program.

6.3.3 configX

6.3.3.1 Start-up

1. Login as root and type the following command: /usr/bin/X11/configX
2. The explanation of special keys appears. (This message only appears prior to the initial configuration of Metro-X, when no Xconfig file exists.)
3. Press [Enter] to continue.

6.3.3.2 Special Keys

6.3.3.3 Mouse configuration

1. Press [\downarrow] to display the list of mice.
2. Press [\uparrow] or [\downarrow] to scroll to your mouse entry, then press [Enter] to select it.
3. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
4. Press [\downarrow] to display the list of mouse buttons. (The default entry is based on your mouse selection, and is usually the appropriate choice.)
5. Press [\uparrow] or [\downarrow] to scroll to your button entry, then press [Enter] to select it.
6. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
7. If you need to change the path for your mouse device, edit it here.
8. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.4 Keyboard configuration

1. The initial keyboard setting is Default: Default Console Mapping, which will work with most keyboards.
2. Press [\downarrow] to display the list of keyboards.
3. Press [\uparrow] or [\downarrow] to scroll to your keyboard entry, then press [Enter] to select it.
4. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.5 Monitor configuration

1. Press [\downarrow] to display the list of monitors.
2. Press [\uparrow] or [\downarrow] to scroll to your monitor entry, then press [Enter] to select it.
3. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
4. If you need to change the screen width (mm), edit it here.
5. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
6. If you need to change the screen height (mm), edit it here.
7. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.6 Screen Saver

• X Screen Saver - Preliminary phase to DPMS, which blanks the screen but provides no power reduction.
• Standby Mode - First phase of DPMS, which provides moderate power reduction by disabling the horizontal sync signal to the monitor.
• Suspend Mode - Second phase of DPMS, which provides significant power reduction by disabling the vertical sync signal to the monitor.
• Monitor Off - Final phase of DPMS, which provides maximum power reduction by disabling both the horizontal and vertical sync signals to the monitor.

1. In the X Screen Saver Delay field, press [Enter] to toggle this option on or off.
2. If toggled on, press [Tab] to move to the Minutes field, then use [<-] or [->] to set the value.
3. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
4. In the Standby Mode Delay field, press [Enter] to toggle this option on or off.
5. If toggled on, press [Tab] to move to the Minutes field, then use [<-] or [->] to set the value.
6. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
7. In the Suspend Mode Delay field, press [Enter] to toggle this option on or off.
8. If toggled on, press [Tab] to move to the Minutes field, then use [<-] or [->] to set the value.
9. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.
10. In the Monitor Off Delay field, press [Enter] to toggle this option on or off.
11. If toggled on, press [Tab] to move to the Minutes field, then use [<-] or [->] to set the value.

6.3.3.7 Graphics Card Configuration

Each graphics card configuration consists of five elements:

• The graphics card (make and model).
• The number of colors supported on screen simultaneously (color depth).
• The virtual resolution of the screen (width x height).
• The physical resolution of the screen (width x height).
• The screen refresh rate (Hz).

Non-interlaced modes give a better screen appearance than refresh rates which are labeled "Interlaced". The highest refresh rate that your monitor supports will give the best image. At higher screen resolutions a higher refresh rate is particularly important to prevent the screen from visibly flickering. The highest refresh rate supported by the selected monitor is automatically displayed. Graphics Card

1. The default graphics card setting is IBM VGA.
2. Press [\downarrow] to display the list of graphics cards.
3. Press [\uparrow] or [\downarrow] to scroll to your graphics card entry, then press [Enter] to select it.
4. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.8 Colors

• Only one color option can be selected (due to design limitations of X).
• In some cases the color options available will be limited by the physical resolution(s) you choose, based on the capabilities of your graphics card. Not all color depths are available at high resolutions.
  1. The default setting is at the lowest value for your card.
  2. Decide which available color setting you want to use.
  3. Press [Tab] to move to that color setting, then press [Enter] to select it. (The previous setting will be canceled.)
  4. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.9 Virtual Resolution

• Only one virtual resolution can be selected.
• In some cases the virtual-resolution options available will be limited by the physical resolution(s) you choose, since the virtual resolution must always be greater than the highest physical resolution.
  1. The default setting for virtual resolution is Disabled.
  2. Decide which available virtual resolution you want to use.
  3. Press [Tab] to move to that setting, then press [Enter] to select it. (The previous setting will be canceled.)
  4. Press [Tab] to move to the next field.

6.3.3.10 Physical Resolution

• Multiple physical resolutions can be selected. You can switch between these resolutions while running Metro-X by pressing a hot-key combination:
  • Press [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[+] to change to the next resolution.
  • Press [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[-] to change to the previous resolution.
• If you want only one resolution, make sure only one Physical Resolution toggle button is selected.
• In some cases the physical resolution(s) you choose may limit the selections you can make in Colors and Virtual Resolution, depending on the capabilities of your graphics card.
  1. The default setting is at the lowest value for your card.
  2. Decide which available resolution(s) you want to use.
  3. Press [Tab] to move to the setting, then press [Enter] to select it.
  4. Press [Tab] to move to the corresponding field to set the screen refresh rate (Hz) for that resolution, then use [<-] or [->] to select a value from the frequency options available. The default setting is the highest frequency your monitor supports, and is usually the appropriate choice.
  5. Repeat this procedure for each physical resolution you want to set.

6.3.3.11 Multiple-Screen Configuration

6.3.3.12 Adding a Screen

1. Press [Alt-S] to display the Screen pull-down menu.
2. Type A for Add.
3. The Monitor and Graphics Card icons for Screen 0 become outlines, and two full-color icons appear for Screen 1.
4. Refer to the procedures described earlier in this chapter if any changes need to be made to the new screen's configuration.
5. Use the [Page Down] and [Page Up] keys to move to the configuration pages of each screen.

6.3.3.13 Deleting a Screen

1. Use the [Page Down] or [Page Up] key to activate the set of icons for the screen you want to delete.
2. Press [Alt-S] to display the Screen pull-down menu.
3. Type D for Delete.
4. One set of Monitor and Graphics Card icons disappears. Higher-numbered screens (if any) immediately fill the gap of the deleted screen.

6.3.3.14 Screen Layout

1. Press [Alt-S] to display the Screen pull-down menu.
2. Type L for Layout.
3. The Screen Layout window appears.
4. Press [<-] and [->] to view the various layout combinations for your number of screens.
5. When the layout you want is displayed, press [Enter] to select it.

6.3.3.15 Font Path

1. Press [Alt-C] to display the Configuration pull-down menu, then press [Enter].
2. The Font Path window appears.
3. Edit the file as necessary for your system. Metro-X looks for fonts in the order in which the directories are listed in this file. If you are using a font server, enter this as the first line:

   tcp/<fontserver machine>:7000
   

   If your port number is not the default 7000, change it to the appropriate port number for your system.
4. Press [Tab] to move to and amongst the bottom buttons, then press [Enter] to select one. If the information is correct, select the OK button. If you want to disregard the changes you've made, select the Cancel button. If you've edited your font path and want to go back to the original settings, select the Load Defaults button.

6.3.3.16 Save and Exit

1. Press [Alt-F] to display the File pull-down menu.
2. Type S for Save and Exit.
3. Your changes are saved, the Metro-X Configuration Utility closes, and your system is now ready to run Metro-X!

6.3.3.17 Quit Without Saving

1. Press [Alt-F] to display the File pull-down menu.
2. Type Q for Quit.
3. A precautionary dialog box appears: Save current configuration before exiting?
4. Press [Tab] to move to the No button, then press [Enter] to confirm that you want to exit the Metro-X Configuration Utility without saving your changes.

For more details on features of Metro X and the format of the Xconfig file see Appendix G.