How to guide for X11

By Christoph Vogelbusch

The following steps are only NO-FAIL steps. That means you do not have to do it that way, but that way has proven to work. The description shows first what to do than "how to do". The "how to do" means you have to be in a shell, e.g. OS/2 window and the downloaded files are on the root of your system drive while it is supposed that the system drive is C: else please change C: through your system drive. (Sometimes here is used a * instead of mentioning all the different names, this can be used as long as there are no other ZIPs in your root than the mention ones. If you do not have unzip.exe get it from ftp://ftp.infozip.org/pub/infozip/os2/ and run it to extract it. Last copy at least the 'unzip.exe' to your path (e.g. C:\OS2).

Symbols:

I. Installation sections (remove the downloaded files after the installation)
1) Steps for installation

Location = URL Files = download these " " = enter these lines in a shell (without ") ' ' = enter these string in the mentions position (without ')

EMX Runtime 0.9d Fix 2
 * Location: ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/3.3.6/binaries/OS2/
 * Files: emxrt.zip

Step (Unzippping)

Go to the root of your system drive: e.g. C:\ "C:" "cd \" and unzip the EMX archive "unzip emxrt"

Step (enhance the LIBPATH and the PATH in your Config.sys)

Open your config.sys "e C:\config.sys" Add ';C:\EMX\DLL' to the end of the LIBPATH statement

Add ';C:\EMX\BIN' to the end of the PATH statement

(EMX works after the next reboot)

XFree86OS/2
Location: ftp://ftp.xfree86.org/pub/XFree86/3.3.6/binaries/OS2/

Files:
 * XSVGA.zip (Note: works with most graphic cards, for special cards read xf86dist.html)
 * Xbase.zip
 * Xbin.zip
 * Xfnts.zip
 * Xdoc.zip
 * Xf100.zip
 * Xfscl.zip
 * Xfsrv.zip

Step (unzipping)

Go to the root of your system drive: e.g. C:\ "C:" "cd \" and unzip the Xfree86OS/2-archives "unzip *"

Step (enhance the LIBPATH and the PATH in your Config.sys)

Open your config.sys "e C:\config.sys" Add 'C:\XFree86\LIB;' to the beginning of the LIBPATH statement (after the =)

Add 'C:\XFree86 \BIN;' to the beginning of the PATH statement (after the =)

Also add the following lines: 'SET DISPLAY=localhost:0.0' 'SET MANPATH=G:\Apps\XFree86\man' 'SET TERM=ansi' SET TERMCAP=C:/XFree86/devel/emxrt/etc/termcap.x11 SET TMP=D:\TCPIP\TMP SET X11ROOT=C: SET XSERVER=C:/XFREE86/bin/XF86_SVGA.exe

Step (loopback interface)

Open your TCP/IP Configuration (LAN) Notebook in your Configuration Folder and select 'loopback interface'. Now select 'activate device'.

Step (Setting up Xfree86OS/2 graphics)

Go to Xfree86\bin "cd \XFree86\bin" and start "XF86Config"

The Questions:

XKB: 'y'es (why not)

keymap: select yours (e.g. 10)

monitor: select your monitor (e.g. 7)

sync: select your refresh rate (e.g. 3)

Now you're asked for an identification, these are only names and don't have to be correct.

Database: 'y'es (find out which number your graphic card has)

Scroll with ENTER through the pages and type your number when your card is shown screen section: 3 (for SVGA)

ram: how much ram does your graphic card have (if you don't know, 5 is mostly OK and 4 even for little older card)

Now you're asked for an identification again and again, these are only names and don't have to be correct.

Clock chip: Just press ENTER (except for your knowing what you're doing)

X -probeonly: 'n'o (doesn't work, especially if you haven't rebooted since 3rd step)

Now comes the speciality of Xfree86OS/2 the resolution change on the fly. Within Xfree86OS/2 you can change the resolution whenever you want through pressing Ctrl+Alt+'+' or Ctrl+Alt+'-'.

And with this configuration, you can tell Xfree86OS/2 which resolution you want to be able to change through. So first elect the colour range (I suggest 16 Bit ('2'), colourful, but accelerated). Then enter your resolutions starting with the one Xfree86OS/2 should use at start up: e.g. 54327 for starting with 1280x1024 and going down to 320x240.

Larger than physical screen: 'n'o (if you have a big starting resolution, you have the same effect)

Then you can continue with 5 (or set up other colour depth)

Last press 'y'es to save your configuration.

Step (emulation of the third mouse button)

If you do not have a 3rd mouse button, I suggest emulating it.

Edit your XF86Config "e \XFree86\lib\x11\XF86Config" search for the line '# Emulate3Buttons' (Ctrl+F) and remove the '#'. Now you can save and exit.

(XFree86OS/2 works after the next reboot)

Note: to start Xfree86OS/2 use "startx" (you can also drag C:\Xfree86\bin\startx.cmd to your desktop).

Note to start Xfree86OS/2 in 16 Bit (suggested) use "startx -- -bpp 16" (or add '-- -bpp 16' to the parameter line of the ICON's properties.

Note: Whenever Xfree86OS/2 got a hanger you can return to OS/2 with Ctrl+ESC or even kill Xfree86OS/2 with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.

GNOME/2 (optional)
Location: http://birdy.hpage.net (GNOME/2-download)

Files:

required: everything (except if you have installed something with e/2)

optional: lib-panel

apps:
 * Gnome Games (if you want them)
 * Gnome Utils (should have)
 * Gnome Control Center

Step (Unzippping)

Go to the root of your system drive: e.g. C:\ "C:" "cd \" and unzip all GNOME/2-archives "unzip *"

Step (running the progs)

If you're using E/2, you can call some GNOME/2 apps through the App menus. (You may have to regenerate the menus, see above).

Else run the Progs from the xterm.

GIMP/2 (optional, must have GNOME/2)
Location: http://birdy.hpage.net (GNOME/2-download)

Files:

apps: Gimp Base, Gimp Data

Step (Unzipping)

Go to the root of your system drive: e.g. C:\ "C:" "cd \" and unzip all GNOME/2-archives "unzip *"

Step (choose default GIMP/2)

Rename your gimp version to default. e.g. gimp1116.exe gimp.exe "ren C:\XFree86\bin\gimp1116.exe gimp.exe"

Step (add the EMXOPT statement to your Config.sys) Open your config.sys "e C:\config.sys" Add the line 'SET EMXOPT=-c -h2048'

Step (running the progs)

If you're using E/2, you can call Gimp/2 through the Apps menu. (You may have to regenerate the menus, see above).

Else run gimp.exe from the xterm.

Links to more Information

 * Flash's XFree86OS/2 Page Installation, Configuration and Usage information