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.xsession and .Xclients files in the user's home directory to decide which desktop environ-
ment to load. As a last resort, the /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients file is used to select a desktop
environment or window manager to use in the same way as runlevel 3.
When the user finishes an X session on the default display (:0) and logs out, the
/etc/X11/xdm/TakeConsole script runs and reassigns ownership of the console to the root
user. The original display manager, which continued running after the user logged in, takes control
by spawning a new display manager.
window, and starts the entire process over again.
For more information about how display managers control user authentication, read the xdm man page.
6.5 Fonts
Red Hat Linux uses xfs (X Font Server) to provide fonts to the XFree86 server and the X client
applications that connect to it. While it is possible to not use xfs and place the paths to font directories
in your XF86Config and XF86Config-4 configuration files, xfs has several advantages:
•
It is easier to add and remove fonts, including editing the font path. The font path is a collection
of paths in the filesystem where font files are stored. The xfs service keeps the font path out of
the XFree86 configuration files, making it easier to edit.
•
Fonts may be stored on one machine acting as a networked font server, and the fonts can be shared
among muliple X servers over the network. A common set of fonts can be maintained in one place,
and easily shared between all users.
•
More types of fonts are supported. xfs can handle TrueType, Type1, and bitmap fonts.
The XFree86 configuration files know whether to use xfs or hard coded font paths because of the
FontPath setting in their Files sections. By default, the FontPath is set to unix/:7100.
This tells the XFree86 server to connect to port 7100 using an inner-machine communication link.
The xfs server listening on this port and will respond with font information when queried by the
XFree86 server.
The xfs service must be running when X is started. If it is not, you will be returned to a command
prompt with an error similar to failed to set default font path 'unix/:7100'.
Check to see if xfs is running using the ps aux | grep xfs command. By default, xfs is
set to start in runlevels 2, 3, 4, and 5, covering all runlevels where you would run X. If xfs is not
running on your system, you can start it as root using the service xfs start command. Use
the serviceconf or chkconfig utilities to force it to start at the correct runlevels.
6.5.1 xfs Configuration
The /etc/rc.d/init.d/xfs script starts the xfs server. Several options can be configured in
the /etc/X11/fs/config file:
Chapter 6:X Servers and Clients
This restarts the XFree86 server, displays a new login
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