NAME

X − X Window System server

SYNOPSIS

X displaynumber [-option ...]

DESCRIPTION

X is the Ardent window system server.  Normally it is started from the xstart(1) command.  The displaynumber argument is used by clients in their DISPLAY environment variables to indicate which server to contact. Currently the only valid value for displaynumber is 0. 

The Ardent X+ server has support for the following protocols:

TCP/IP
The server listens on port htons(6000+N), where N is the display number.

Unix Domain
The name for the socket is X11-unix:0.

When the Ardent X+ server starts up, it takes over the display.  Normally when the server is started an xterm is used to display messages directed to the console.  While the X server is running you cannot log into the console. 

OPTIONS

The following options can be given on the command line to the X+ server:

−a number
sets pointer acceleration (i.e. the ratio of how much is reported to how much the user actually moved the pointer).

−base use base graphics board only. 

−bs disables backing store support on all screens. 

−c turns off key-click. 

c volume sets key-click volume (allowable range: 0-8). 

−f volume
sets feep (bell) volume (allowable range: 0-7).

−logo turns on the X Window System logo display in the screen-saver.  There is currently no way to change this from a client. 

nologo turns off the X Window System logo display in the screen-saver.  There is currently no way to change this from a client. 

−p minutes
sets screen-saver pattern cycle time in minutes.

−pseudo
set default visual class to PseudoColor (and default depth to 8).

−r turns off auto-repeat. 

r turns on auto-repeat. 

−s minutes
sets screen-saver timeout time in minutes.

−ssp specify screen-saver program. 

−stereo enable stereo screen. 

−su disables save under support on all screens. 

−t numbers
sets pointer acceleration threshold in pixels (i.e. after how many pixels pointer acceleration should take effect).

−to seconds
sets default screensaver timeout in seconds.

v sets video-on screen-saver preference. 

−v sets video-off screen-saver preference

−wm WhenMapped default backing-store

−co filename
sets name of RGB color database

−help prints a usage message

−fp fontPath
sets the search path for fonts

−fc cursorFont
sets default cursor font

−fn font
sets the default font

−bp pixel-value
set default black-pixel color

−wp pixel-value
set default white-pixel color

SECURITY

X uses an access control list for deciding whether or not to accept a connection from a given cleint.  This list initially consists of the machine on which the server is running, and any hosts listed in the file /etc/X∗.hosts (where ∗ is the display number).  This file should contain one line per host name, with no white space. 

The user can manipulate a dynamic form of this list in the server using the xhost(1) program from the same machine as the server. 

Unlike some window systems, X does not have any notion of window operation permissions or place any restrictions on what a client can do; if a program can connect to a display, it has full run of the screen. 

SIGNALS

The X server attaches special meaning to the following signals:

SIGHUP This signal causes the server to close all existing connections, free all resources, and restore all defaults.  It is sent by the display manager whenever the main user’s main application (usually an xterm or window manager) exits to force the server to clean up and prepare for the next user. 

SIGTERM
This signal causes the server to exit cleanly.

FONTS

Fonts are usually stored as individual files in directories.  The list of directories in which the server looks when trying to open a font is controlled by the font path.  Although most sites will choose to have the server start up with the appropriate font path (using the -fp option mentioned above), it can be overridden using the xset program.  The default font path for the Ardent X server contains the single directory: /usr/X11/fonts. 

Font databases are created by running the mkfontdir program in the directory containing the compiled versions of the fonts (the .snf files).  Whenever fonts are added to a directory, mkfontdir should be rerun so that the server can find the new fonts.  If mkfontdir is not run, the server will not be able to find any fonts in the directory.

PROGRAMMABLE SCREEN SAVER

The Ardent X server provides support for programmable screen savers.  The -ssp option allows you to set the screen saver program used by the server.  The currently available options are ardentlogo which moves the Ardent logo around the screen and stringart which draws some nice vector patterns.  You can also define your own. 

A screen saver program is invoked with two arguments: the window id in the form 0xhhhh and the screen saver interval in milliseconds. The window passed to the screen saver program will cover the entire screen and will either be a 24 bit direct color window or an 8 bit pseudo color window.  The program should be able to handle both cases. 

STEREO

The Ardent X Server provides support for stereo graphics.  If the -stereo option is used then pressing the ALT and F2 keys on the titan keyboard will display the stereo screen.  Applications wishing to display on the stereo screen should create windows on screen 1.  This screen does not have a square aspect ratio (since half the y resolution is used for the left eye and half for the right).  Pressing ALT F2 key toggles between the stereo and normal screens.  Stereo viewing requires special hardware see your local Ardent representative for details. 

DIAGNOSTICS

Too numerous to list them all.  If run from start(1), errors are logged in the file /usr/adm/X∗msgs,

FILES

/etc/X∗.hosts Initial access control list

/usr/X11/fonts Font directory

/usr/X11/rgb/rgb.txt Color database

/usr/adm/X∗msgs Error log file

SEE ALSO

X11(1), xstart(1), xinit(1), xterm(1), awm(1), xhost(1), xset(1), xsetroot(1). 

BUGS

The option syntax is inconsistent with itself and xset(1). 

The acceleration option should take a numerator and a denominator like the protocol. 

If X dies before its clients, new clients won’t be able to connect until all existing connections have their TCP TIME_WAIT timers expire. 

The color database is missing a large number of colors.  However, there doesn’t seem to be a better one available that can generate RGB values tailorable to particular displays. 

COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 
Copyright 1988, Ardent Computer.
See X(1) for a full statement of rights and permissions. 

AUTHORS

The sample server was originally written by Susan Angebranndt, Raymond Drewry, Philip Karlton, and Todd Newman, with support from a cast of thouands. 

The Ardent X+ server was implemented by: Mark Patrick and John Reiser. 

September 29, 2021