X Power Tools

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X Power Tools

By Chris Tyler

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: December 2007

Pages: 272

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. More people use the X Window System than ever before, but there are few books about X in print. X Power Tools fills that hole with the most practical and up-to-date information available.

Written in O'Reilly's popular Power Tools format, X Power Tools offers dozens of standalone articles, thoroughly cross-referenced, on useful tools and techniques for using X. This unique inside look at X gives Unix/Linux system administrators, owners of self-administered systems, and power users a lot of useful ways to harness the power of this system effectively. This book:

Offers a thorough grounding in X configuration and how the system works
Provides the complete ins and outs of changing a desktop's behavior, such as fonts, keyboard settings, and remote security
Includes articles on how to take advantage of X's "network transparency" -- its ability to display graphical applications on a remote machine
Explores intriguing areas such as using multiple monitors, building kiosks, and accessibility
Features discussions on X Window innovations and the future of the system

X Power Tools covers configuration and use of X, focusing on Linux but also including notes on other operating systems such as Solaris and FreeBSD. Each article in the book gives you insight into X; the entire book gives you a real grasp on this system and what you can do with it.

The X Server
1. Chapter 1 Introduction to the X Window System
  1. The X Window System
  2. The History of X
  3. The Renaissance: New X Versus Old X
  4. X by Any Other Name
  5. Seven Layers of an X-based GUI
  6. Where Is the Server?
  7. Why Windows Look and Act Differently
  8. Toolkits and Desktop Environments
  9. The Role of Freedesktop.org
  10. Display Hardware
  11. Displays, Screens, and Xinerama
  12. Display Specifications
  13. TCP/IP Ports
  14. Local Connection Mechanisms
  15. Server Extensions
  16. Where to Draw the Line: Kernel Versus User-Space Drivers
2. Chapter 2 Starting a Local X Server
  1. One Size Doesn't Fit All
  2. Virtual Terminals
  3. Starting a Raw X Server Manually
  4. Using a Display Manager to Start the X Server
  5. Enabling or Disabling the Display Manager at Boot Time
  6. What Started the Display Manager?
  7. Starting Multiple X Servers Using a Display Manager
  8. Starting Additional X Servers on Demand Using a Display Manager
  9. Starting an X Server with Clients Only When Needed
  10. Switching VTs from the Shell Prompt
  11. Starting X Within X
  12. No Mouse!
  13. Bailing Out: Zapping X
  14. Terminating X Automatically
3. Chapter 3 Basic X.org Configuration
  1. What Is There to Configure?
  2. Why Only root Can Configure the X Server
  3. Places Your Configuration Could Hide
  4. Let the X Server Configure Itself
  5. The xorg.conf Configuration File
  6. Optional Sections in the xorg.conf Configuration File
  7. Configuring the Pointer Device
  8. Configuring a Two-Button Mouse
  9. Configuring a Mouse with a Scrollwheel
  10. Configuring a Synaptics TouchPad
  11. Enabling DPMS
  12. Configuring Video Card Driver Options
  13. LightSteelBlue and Other Color Names
  14. Configuring a Monitor's Scan Rates
  15. Reading Server Log Files
  16. Configuring the Default Depth of a Screen
  17. Configuring the Resolution of a Screen
4. Chapter 4 Advanced X.org Configuration
  1. Multi-Screen Configuration
  2. Xinerama Configuration
  3. Differences Between Multi-Screen and Xinerama Modes
  4. Positioning Screens
  5. Overlapping Xinerama
  6. Scrolling Virtual Screens and Xinerama
  7. Using Multiple Outputs from One Video Card
  8. Parallel Pointing Devices
  9. Parallel Keyboards
  10. Using X with GPM or MOUSED
5. Chapter 5 Using the X Server
  1. Interacting with the X Server
  2. Changing Resolution On-the-Fly
  3. Changing the Resolution and the Screen Size Dynamically
  4. Using the Middle Mouse Button
  5. Using the Clipboard
  6. Keyboard Focus
  7. Keyboard and Mouse Grabs
X Clients
1. Chapter 6 X Utility Programs
  1. The Unused Toolbox
  2. Determine the Display Configuration
  3. Getting Window Information
  4. Viewing Server Settings
  5. Control That Bell!
  6. Adjusting the Keyboard Repeat Rate
  7. Adjusting the Mouse Acceleration
  8. Playing with the Lights
  9. Killing a Rogue Client
  10. Examining Part of the Display in Detail
  11. Script a Screen Dump
  12. Preventing the Screen from Blanking During Presentations
  13. Eye Candy: xscreensaver
  14. Redrawing the Screen
2. Chapter 7 Running X Clients
  1. Running X Clients
  2. Background Operation
  3. Geometry
  4. Split Personality: Running Nongraphical Applications
3. Chapter 8 Session Managers,Desktop Environments, and Window Managers
  1. X and Desktop Environments
  2. Session Managers
  3. Virtual Desktops
  4. Starting GNOME
  5. Starting KDE
  6. Starting Xfce
  7. Using a Window Manager Alone
Colors, Fonts, and Keyboards
1. Chapter 9 Color
  1. RGB and Other Systems
  2. Visuals
  3. Gamma
  4. Color Management Systems
2. Chapter 10 Core Fonts: Fonts the Old Way
  1. Old Fonts Versus New Fonts
  2. Configuring the Font Path
  3. Using a Font Server
  4. Font Names
  5. Installing and Removing Fonts
3. Chapter 11 Pango, Xft, Fontconfig, and Render: Fonts the New Way
  1. Client-Side Fonts
  2. Adding and Removing Fonts Manually
  3. Adding and Removing Fonts Using GNOME
  4. Adding and Removing Fonts Using KDE
  5. Fontconfig Font Names
  6. Fontconfig Utilities
  7. Installing the Microsoft Fonts
  8. Rendering Options
4. Chapter 12 Keyboard Configuration
  1. Keyboards and XKB
  2. The Location of XKB Files
  3. XKB Components
  4. Selecting an XKB Keymap Using Rules
  5. Using Keyboard Groups
  6. Setting the Keymap in the xorg.conf File
  7. Setting the Keymap from the Command Line
  8. Setting the Keymap Using a Keyboard Configuration File
  9. Compiling Keyboard Maps
  10. Viewing or Printing a Keyboard Layout
Using X Remotely
1. Chapter 13 Remote Access
  1. Network Transparency
  2. Displaying on a Remote Server
  3. Enabling Remote Sessions
  4. Accessing a Remote Session on a Specific Host
  5. Accessing a Remote Session on Any Available Host
  6. Accessing a Remote Session from a List of Available Sessions
  7. The Three Challenges of Remote Access
  8. Host-Based Access Control
  9. xauth and Magic Cookies
  10. The X Security Extension
  11. Low-Bandwidth X (LBX)
  12. X Tunneling with SSH
  13. Using Public Keys with SSH
  14. Using Passphrase Protection of SSH Keys
  15. OpenSSH and the SECURITY Extension
2. Chapter 14 Using VNC
  1. The VNC System
  2. So Many VNC Versions!
  3. Xvnc Basics
  4. The vncserver Script
  5. Using the VNC Viewers
  6. Using Standing VNC Servers
  7. Configuring the Xvnc Web Server
  8. Customizing the VNC Java Applet Web Page
  9. Starting VNC On Demand Using xinetd
  10. Starting VNC On Demand Using inetd
  11. Using the Java Applet with On-Demand VNC Servers
  12. Accessing VNC Securely Using SSH
  13. Embedding an X Application in a Web Page
  14. Using KDE and Gnome Remote Desktop Access Tools
  15. Using the VNC Extension to the X.Org Server
  16. Using VNC to Share a Presentation
  17. Bypassing a Firewall
Special Configurations
1. Chapter 15 Building a Kiosk
  1. What Is a Kiosk, and Why Do I Want One?
  2. Selecting Kiosk Hardware
  3. Configure X for a Kiosk
  4. Controlling the Keyboard
  5. Controlling the Mouse
  6. Starting a Single Fullscreen Application
  7. Network Status Monitoring
  8. Using xscreensaver to Reset a Kiosk
  9. Refining the Kiosk Appearance
  10. Putting It All Together: Scripting a Kiosk
  11. Booting a Kiosk
  12. Creating a Video Wall

Colophon

Title:

X Power Tools

By:

Chris Tyler

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print:

December 2007

Ebook:

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

Description

Table of Contents

Product Details

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Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

oreilly X Power Tools

4.5

(based on 2 reviews)

Reviews

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Displaying reviews 1-2

6/19/2010

4.0

A book for X users, of all levels

By DaveR

from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

About Me Inquisitive user

Pros

Concise
Helpful examples

Cons

Best Uses

Intermediate

Comments about oreilly X Power Tools:

I have read the book many times, learning more with each pass. The historical background is fascinating, where X originated, and hints as to where it may be going. There are "aha!" moments, such as to what may be going on at a kiosk, or ATM, or when watching a projected lecture (what you see, and what the lecturer probably sees on his/her monitor).
I also benefit from the comprehensive index, when I want to revisit a specific facet of the subject. This is particularly true as I fine-tune my multi-screen Fedora 12 configuration.

7/12/2008

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

The best X configuration/ hacking book available

By Yaron Kahanovitch

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly X Power Tools:

X configuration is always one important task when developing application in Unix environment.

In the past we use to interact directly with the X server via Xlib. My library was overloaded with Xlib books and the development was cumbersome and frustrating. Thanks god, there are exelent libraries that makes life easier GTK and QT are great and give me simple, full solution for my requirements. One left thing is to configure the X. How to manage two X servers on the same workstation?

How to configure the X to directly run my application? How to connect special IO devices to the X?

Well, X power tools give you those answers.

It is, of the shelf, book that enables me to fine tune the X to my boss bizarre requirement.

It just open for you the complex world of X configuration

I warmly recommend this book!!

Yaron Kahanovitch

http://www.kahanovitch.com/yaron/cv2.html