Chapter 6. The X Window System

Updated for X.Org's X11 server by Ken Tom and Marc Fonvieille.
Table of Contents
6.1. Synopsis
6.2. Understanding X
6.3. Installing X11
6.4. X11 Configuration
6.5. Using Fonts in X11
6.6. The X Display Manager
6.7. Desktop Environments

6.1. Synopsis

FreeBSD uses X11 to provide users with a powerful graphical user interface. X11 is a freely available version of the X Window System that is implemented in Xorg (and other software packages not discussed here). The default and official flavor of X11 in FreeBSD is Xorg, the X11 server developed by the X.Org Foundation under a license very similar to the one used by FreeBSD.

For more information on the video hardware that X11 supports, check the Xorg web site.

After reading this chapter, you will know:

  • The various components of the X Window System, and how they interoperate.

  • How to install and configure X11.

  • How to install and use different window managers.

  • How to use TrueType® fonts in X11.

  • How to set up your system for graphical logins (XDM).

Before reading this chapter, you should:

All FreeBSD documents are available for download at http://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/

Questions that are not answered by the documentation may be sent to <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org>.

Send questions about this document to <freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org>.