Description
This book puts you in charge of the most flexible and adaptable graphical interface in the computer industry. The X Window System underlies graphical desktops on Linux and Unix systems, and supports advanced features of modern graphics cards. This unique inside look at X gives you a lot of useful ways to harness the power of this system effectively.
Full Description
Table of Contents
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The X Server
-
Chapter 1 Introduction to the X Window System
- The X Window System
- The History of X
- The Renaissance: New X Versus Old X
- X by Any Other Name
- Seven Layers of an X-based GUI
- Where Is the Server?
- Why Windows Look and Act Differently
- Toolkits and Desktop Environments
- The Role of Freedesktop.org
- Display Hardware
- Displays, Screens, and Xinerama
- Display Specifications
- TCP/IP Ports
- Local Connection Mechanisms
- Server Extensions
- Where to Draw the Line: Kernel Versus User-Space Drivers
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Chapter 2 Starting a Local X Server
- One Size Doesn't Fit All
- Virtual Terminals
- Starting a Raw X Server Manually
- Using a Display Manager to Start the X Server
- Enabling or Disabling the Display Manager at Boot Time
- What Started the Display Manager?
- Starting Multiple X Servers Using a Display Manager
- Starting Additional X Servers on Demand Using a Display Manager
- Starting an X Server with Clients Only When Needed
- Switching VTs from the Shell Prompt
- Starting X Within X
- No Mouse!
- Bailing Out: Zapping X
- Terminating X Automatically
-
Chapter 3 Basic X.org Configuration
- What Is There to Configure?
- Why Only root Can Configure the X Server
- Places Your Configuration Could Hide
- Let the X Server Configure Itself
- The xorg.conf Configuration File
- Optional Sections in the xorg.conf Configuration File
- Configuring the Pointer Device
- Configuring a Two-Button Mouse
- Configuring a Mouse with a Scrollwheel
- Configuring a Synaptics TouchPad
- Enabling DPMS
- Configuring Video Card Driver Options
- LightSteelBlue and Other Color Names
- Configuring a Monitor's Scan Rates
- Reading Server Log Files
- Configuring the Default Depth of a Screen
- Configuring the Resolution of a Screen
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Chapter 4 Advanced X.org Configuration
- Multi-Screen Configuration
- Xinerama Configuration
- Differences Between Multi-Screen and Xinerama Modes
- Positioning Screens
- Overlapping Xinerama
- Scrolling Virtual Screens and Xinerama
- Using Multiple Outputs from One Video Card
- Parallel Pointing Devices
- Parallel Keyboards
- Using X with GPM or MOUSED
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Chapter 5 Using the X Server
- Interacting with the X Server
- Changing Resolution On-the-Fly
- Changing the Resolution and the Screen Size Dynamically
- Using the Middle Mouse Button
- Using the Clipboard
- Keyboard Focus
- Keyboard and Mouse Grabs
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X Clients
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Chapter 6 X Utility Programs
- The Unused Toolbox
- Determine the Display Configuration
- Getting Window Information
- Viewing Server Settings
- Control That Bell!
- Adjusting the Keyboard Repeat Rate
- Adjusting the Mouse Acceleration
- Playing with the Lights
- Killing a Rogue Client
- Examining Part of the Display in Detail
- Script a Screen Dump
- Preventing the Screen from Blanking During Presentations
- Eye Candy: xscreensaver
- Redrawing the Screen
-
Chapter 7 Running X Clients
- Running X Clients
- Background Operation
- Geometry
- Split Personality: Running Nongraphical Applications
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Chapter 8 Session Managers,Desktop Environments, and Window Managers
- X and Desktop Environments
- Session Managers
- Virtual Desktops
- Starting GNOME
- Starting KDE
- Starting Xfce
- Using a Window Manager Alone
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Colors, Fonts, and Keyboards
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Chapter 9 Color
- RGB and Other Systems
- Visuals
- Gamma
- Color Management Systems
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Chapter 10 Core Fonts: Fonts the Old Way
- Old Fonts Versus New Fonts
- Configuring the Font Path
- Using a Font Server
- Font Names
- Installing and Removing Fonts
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Chapter 11 Pango, Xft, Fontconfig, and Render: Fonts the New Way
- Client-Side Fonts
- Adding and Removing Fonts Manually
- Adding and Removing Fonts Using GNOME
- Adding and Removing Fonts Using KDE
- Fontconfig Font Names
- Fontconfig Utilities
- Installing the Microsoft Fonts
- Rendering Options
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Chapter 12 Keyboard Configuration
- Keyboards and XKB
- The Location of XKB Files
- XKB Components
- Selecting an XKB Keymap Using Rules
- Using Keyboard Groups
- Setting the Keymap in the xorg.conf File
- Setting the Keymap from the Command Line
- Setting the Keymap Using a Keyboard Configuration File
- Compiling Keyboard Maps
- Viewing or Printing a Keyboard Layout
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Using X Remotely
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Chapter 13 Remote Access
- Network Transparency
- Displaying on a Remote Server
- Enabling Remote Sessions
- Accessing a Remote Session on a Specific Host
- Accessing a Remote Session on Any Available Host
- Accessing a Remote Session from a List of Available Sessions
- The Three Challenges of Remote Access
- Host-Based Access Control
- xauth and Magic Cookies
- The X Security Extension
- Low-Bandwidth X (LBX)
- X Tunneling with SSH
- Using Public Keys with SSH
- Using Passphrase Protection of SSH Keys
- OpenSSH and the SECURITY Extension
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Chapter 14 Using VNC
- The VNC System
- So Many VNC Versions!
- Xvnc Basics
- The vncserver Script
- Using the VNC Viewers
- Using Standing VNC Servers
- Configuring the Xvnc Web Server
- Customizing the VNC Java Applet Web Page
- Starting VNC On Demand Using xinetd
- Starting VNC On Demand Using inetd
- Using the Java Applet with On-Demand VNC Servers
- Accessing VNC Securely Using SSH
- Embedding an X Application in a Web Page
- Using KDE and Gnome Remote Desktop Access Tools
- Using the VNC Extension to the X.Org Server
- Using VNC to Share a Presentation
- Bypassing a Firewall
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-
Special Configurations
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Chapter 15 Building a Kiosk
- What Is a Kiosk, and Why Do I Want One?
- Selecting Kiosk Hardware
- Configure X for a Kiosk
- Controlling the Keyboard
- Controlling the Mouse
- Starting a Single Fullscreen Application
- Network Status Monitoring
- Using xscreensaver to Reset a Kiosk
- Refining the Kiosk Appearance
- Putting It All Together: Scripting a Kiosk
- Booting a Kiosk
- Creating a Video Wall
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-
Colophon
Product Details
- Title:
- X Power Tools
- By:
- Chris Tyler
- Publisher:
- O'Reilly Media
- Formats:
-
- Ebook
- Safari Books Online
- Print Release:
- December 2007
- Ebook Release:
- December 2008
- Pages:
- 272
- Print ISBN:
- 978-0-596-10195-4
- | ISBN 10:
- 0-596-10195-3
- Ebook ISBN:
- 978-0-596-15972-6
- | ISBN 10:
- 0-596-15972-2
Customer Reviews
Colophon
The image on the cover of X Power Tools is a power sander. A power sander is an electric tool that is used to smooth surfaces of wood and wood finishes. When using a power sander, it is wise to always make sure to take basic safety precautions. For example, tie back long hair so there is no chance of it being caught in the machinery, wear goggles to protect your eyes from sawdust, and cover your ears to protect them from the loud sound and from the sawdust as well.
