Xorg is a the default X-Window server since Debian 4.0 (etch). It replaces XFree86. It is maintained in Debian by the XStrikeForce.

Current Status

Configure X

To reconfigure keyboard settings, run as root in a terminal: 

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

This command formally included steps to configure video settings but as of Winter 2008 in Testing, these screens no longer appear. This is reportedly because auto-detection of video settings works in most cases so a wizard is unneeded. Any further adjustment to video settings must be done by editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf directly.

Edit xorg.conf

Some settings are only accessible through editing xorg.conf by hand.

How can I edit my xorg config file?

Open a terminal (or console) as root, then run : 

editor /etc/X11/xorg.conf

What if I do not have an xorg config file?

Sometimes xorg.conf is missing for some reason. Xorg will then probe your hardware on every startup. Though this works fine in most cases, some settings remain inaccessible. To create a starting point for customization, do the following:

Switch to a console as root (not a terminal emulator in X), then run: 

/etc/init.d/kdm stop
/etc/init.d/gdm stop
/etc/init.d/xdm stop
cd /etc/X11/
Xorg -configure

Alternatively, reboot the machine in single user mode, then run: 

cd /etc/X11/
Xorg -configure

Follow the on-screen instructions. This should give you something to work with.

Run X

After installation run 

startx

or as root run 

invoke-rc.d gdm

(see gdm manpage).

KDE user should use kdm. Others might use xdm.

Configure Xorg

Video drivers

See Also

CategoryXWindowSystem