Configuring X for Your Hardware

README for XFree86 3.3.1 on NetBSD : Configuring X for Your Hardware
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## 5. Configuring X for Your Hardware

The `XF86Config` file tells the X server what kind of monitor, video card and mouse you have. You must create it to tell the server what specific hardware you have.

XFree86 3.2 introduced a new, user-friendly configuration utility called XF86Setup. It has to be run as root. Refer to its documentation for details about its use.

You'll need info on your hardware:

- Your mouse type, baud rate and its /dev entry.
- The video card's chipset (e.g. ET4000, S3, etc).
- Your monitor's sync frequencies.

The recommended way to generate an `XF86Config` file is to use the `XF86Setup` utility. The xf86config text utility is still there for the (few) cases where XF86Setup can't be used. Also, there is a sample file installed as `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.eg`, which can be used as a starting point.

For details about the `XF86Config` file format, refer to the XF86Config(5) manual page.

In order to protect your hardware from damage, the server will no longer read `XF86Config` files from a user's home directory, but requires that it be in `/etc/XF86Config`, `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.hostname` or `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config`.

Once you've set up a XF86Config file, you can fine tune the video modes with the `xvidtune` utility.

### 5.1. About mouse configuration

### 5.2. Other input devices

### 5.3. Configuring PEX and XIE extensions

README for XFree86 3.3.1 on NetBSD : Configuring X for Your Hardware
Previous: Installing Xdm, the display manager
Next: About mouse configuration