Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:33:19 +0100 From: Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk> To: Warren Liddell <shinjii@maydias.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Upgrading from XFree86 to Xorg Message-ID: <466A65CF.6090007@infracaninophile.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.0.20070609170424.01a6ad90@maydias.com> References: <7.0.1.0.0.20070609170424.01a6ad90@maydias.com>
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Warren Liddell wrote:
> Up untill now i have been using XFree86 and being as it is basically no
> longer updated or maintained, so im wishing to know the basic most
> easiest way to change over from XFree to Xorg
If you're still running XFree86 because you're on a FreeBSD 4.x system
where that is the default, then do not even think about trying this as
you will completely banjax your system. Upgrade to 6.2 first.
0) Back up your system. You're going to be deleting large swathes of it,
and restoring from backup is your only recourse if you need to back out
these changes. Also, make a note of all of the ports you have installed
for later reference:
ls -1 /var/db/pkg | lpr
i) Log into the console as root. Stop any X stuff running on other vtys.
Delete all X related ports. Something like the following should do the
trick:
pkg_deinstall -rR XFree86\*
Yes, this will delete the majority of the ports you have installed on
your machine.
ii) Make sure you have your ports tree updated to the latest available.
iii) You will probably have some remnants of a /usr/X11R6 filesystem
left after deleting XFree86. If not, then create a stub directory
temporarily by 'mkdir /usr/X11R6'
iv) Merge anything left under /usr/X11R6 into /usr/local and do various
other configuration tweaks:
sh /usr/ports/Tools/scripts/mergebase.sh
Follow the instructions this script prints out. If it finds files etc.
left laying about under the /usr/X11R6 tree it will ask you to clear
them up and then try again. eg. /usr/X11R6/man/whatis, which can just
be deleted as it is automatically generated from the installed man pages.
Other files you'll have to decide on a case by case basis. Anyhow, keep
trying that script and moving away stuff it can't cope with until the
script reports success.
After this procedure /usr/X11R6 should be a sym-link pointing at
/usr/local
v) Install the new Xorg:
portinstall x11/xorg
If you're using the x11/nvidia driver, then reinstall that at this point.
vi) Generate a new /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and customise it according to
your preferences:
X -configure
[...etc...]
At this point 'startx' should bring up X successfully and get you into a
screen configured with the correct resolution and colour depth etc.
vii) Reinstall any X client software you still require. This is where the
list created in (0) comes in handy. This is where you'ld reinstall Gnome
or KDE, plus any applications like Firefox or Gimp.
Note: beware of using pkg_add to install pre-compiled ports. pkg_add
by default will attempt to install packages from the set compiled at
the time the OS was released, and those (of course) pre-date Xorg 7.2
going into the ports tree. If you want to use precompiled packages
make sure you download them from the 'Latest' directory. Compiling your
own via the ports is recommended[*] -- it takes longer, but the results
are more certain.
[*] With certain exceptions, like OpenOffice
viii) Enjoy.
I wouldn't characterise this procedure as either 'basic' or 'easy' --
it's certainly going to take a great deal of compiling stuff and you
shouldn't attempt it unless you can afford several days without a
working X environment. However, if you're careful and don't try any
short cuts it should work well and be completely effective.
Cheers,
Matthew
- --
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
Kent, CT11 9PW
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