Adding Variables to CONFIG.SYS

README for XFree86 3.3.1 on OS/2 : Adding Variables to CONFIG.SYS
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## 9. Adding Variables to CONFIG.SYS

XFree86/OS2 requires a number of settings in the CONFIG.SYS file to work correctly. Please add the following settings:

TERM

  Set the preferred terminal type for the xterm or editor to be used. Some programs need this setting. I have my type set to

  > `

  >     SET TERM=ansi

  > `

  `\XFree86\lib\X11\etc\termcap.x11` contains a suitable termcap which can be used in place of termcap files that come with EMX, EMACS, or other ported software.
TERMCAP

  This variable must be set to the location where the termcap file used for the above `TERM` variable is searched. My setting, for instance, is:

  > `

  >     SET TERMCAP=D:/EMX/ETC/TERMCAP.X11

  > `

  Note that forward ``/'' is used as a directory separator.
ETC

  Set to an ETC directory. Normally, this is already set to the ETC directory of the TCP/IP code, such as

  > `

  >     SET ETC=C:\TCPIP\ETC

  > `

TMP

  Set to an TMP directory. Normally, this is already set to the TMP directory of the TCP/IP code, such as

  > `

  >     SET TMP=C:\TCPIP\TMP

  > `

HOSTNAME

  Set to the internet hostname. Normally, this is already set by the TCP/IP installation program, such as

  > `

  >     SET HOSTNAME=myhost

  > `

  With IAK, you would normally run a loopback configuration Network configuration and would then set this to

  > `

  >     SET HOSTNAME=localhost

  > `

USER
LOGNAME

  Set both to a username. Currently, they are there just to make some programs happy; in the future, this variable might be set by a login shell of a multiuser configuration. My variable, for instance, is set to

  > `

  >             SET USER=holger
  >             SET LOGNAME=holger

  > `

HOME

  Set this to an existing directory that is supposed to be a home directory of a user. Some utilities place temporary and init files here. This is also future investment for a multiuser configuration, but must still be there. For instance, this variable might be set to

  > `

  >     SET HOME=H:\user\holger

  > `

X11ROOT

  This is one of the most important settings, it determines the root of the XFree86 directory tree. Normally, you will set this to the drive letter of the partition where the \XFree86 tree resides, such as in

  > `

  >     SET X11ROOT=Y:

  > `

  You may try to move the tree to another subdirectory, e.g. to `K:\OS2\X11\XFree86...` and would then have to change this to

  > `

  >     SET X11ROOT=K:/OS2/X11

  > `

  , but this is discouraged, since some utilities might not accept this. Note the forward ``/'' as a directory separator here.
DISPLAY

  This variable may be set to the display to be used for displaying clients. Normally you will set this variable to the same value as the `HOSTNAME` variable and simply add a `:0.0` after it, such as

  > `

  >     SET DISPLAY=myhost:0.0

  > `

  Read the X11 man page on the exact meaning of these postfixes and other options.
XSERVER

  Set this to the executable name of the X server to be used. This must be a complete path. My setting is as follows:

  > `

  >     SET XSERVER=D:/XFree86/bin/XF86_Mach64.exe

  > `

PATH

  Add the binary directory for the X11 utilities to your search PATH. This is normally the directory (adjust the letter)

  > `

  >     Y:\XFree86\bin

  > `

  It is possible to move the binaries to another directory in the search path; for maintenance reasons and clarity of the structure, this is not recommended, though.
LIBPATH

  Add the DLL directory for the X11 utilities to the LIBPATH. This is normally the directory (adjust the letter)

  > `

  >     Y:\XFree86\lib

  > `

  It is possible to move the DLLs to another directory in the library path; for maintenance reasons and clarity of the structure, this is not recommended, though. Note that `Y:\XFree86\lib` has several other subdirectories; these may not be moved elsewhere, rather they must stay there, because most utilities form a path to these directories by using `%X11ROOT%\XFree86\lib` as a base.

The recent version of XFree86/OS2 has a REXX script named `checkinstall.cmd` which you can (and should) use to check whether you have entered most things correctly. This is not bullet-proof, but prevents the most obvious setup problems. Also, the X server itself will do some checking and will refuse to start if something is wrong.

README for XFree86 3.3.1 on OS/2 : Adding Variables to CONFIG.SYS
Previous: Installing the packages
Next: Remarks on the Network Configuration