XFree86 (up to Debian/Sarge) has been replaced by Xorg since Debian/Etch
Configuring XFree86
DebConf configuration
XFree86 can both be configured in Debian (woody+) using debconf. This is done when the package is installed, but can be re-run any time by executing::
$ dpkg-reconfigure <package-name>
where '<package-name>' is the name of the xserver. Use 'xserver-xfree86' or 'xserver-<type>'. Editing your /etc/X11/ config file is only necessary if you have some special needs or are particularly curious. If you must...
Manual XFree86
XFree86 may be configured by editing the file
/etc/X11/XF86Config
If you use XFree 4.x try the command
$ XFree86 -configure
USB mouse
Your Universal Serial Bus (USB) mouse may be configured correctly by adding this section to your !XF86Config-4.
Section "InputDevice" Identifier "USB Mice" Driver "mouse" Option "CorePointer" # Option "SendCoreEvents" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "["ZAxisMapping"]" "4 5" Option "Buttons" "5" EndSection
If you only use a USB mouse use the CorePointer option, otherwise use the SendCoreEvents option.
Using XFree86 with GPM
Configure XFree86
In your XF86Config (-4) file:
Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Generic Mouse" Driver "mouse" # Option "CorePointer" Option "SendCoreEvents" Option "Device" "/dev/gpmdata" Option "Protocol" "IntelliMouse" EndSection
The IntelliMouse driver corresponds to the "repeat_type=ms3" option in gpm.conf, which is the default repeat type in Debian.
On the gpm side of things
To configure gpm use program gpmconfig. For most of the scroll wheel mice I use a type of imps2. That seems to work best.
In a normal setup gpm listens to the port the mouse is connected to and repeats/relays the mouse events to a unix socket /dev/gpmdata. This allows console applications like mc (Midnight Commander) to get mouse events. For X Window to hear the mouse it should be configured to listen to /dev/gpmdata. I've always had the best luck configuring gpm to repeat in raw mode and configure X Window to use whatever protocol the mouse uses. In this setup the mouse type should be set in two places, in gpmconfig and in your X Window configuration. I get the feeling this is a non-standard approach but it's alway given me the least problems.