Discussion:
xorg.conf of Ubuntu-9.04 is empty
(too old to reply)
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-05 06:08:03 UTC
Permalink
***@server:/etc/X11# ls -l xorg.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2009-05-04 00:05 xorg.conf

Where is the actual xorg.conf?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 14:07:01 up 20:09 1 user load average: 0.06 0.10 0.13
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
Amnon
2009-05-05 06:39:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-04 00:05 xorg.conf
Where is the actual xorg.conf?
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-05 08:52:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Amnon
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-04 00:05 xorg.conf
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
The size of your xorg.conf is not zero??? Why?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 16:52:01 up 22:54 0 users load average: 1.00 1.06 0.89
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
yowie
2009-05-05 09:51:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by Amnon
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-04 00:05 xorg.conf
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
The size of your xorg.conf is not zero??? Why?
Mine isn't either.

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "False"
EndSection
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-05 10:39:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
The size of your xorg.conf is not zero??? Why?
Mine isn't either.
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "False"
EndSection
The size of /etc/X11/xorg.conf is zero. It's a clean install using the
9.04 alternate CD.

Did you upgrade an old Ubuntu and hence keep the old xorg.conf?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 18:38:01 up 1 day 40 min 0 users load average: 1.17 1.16 1.11
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
yowie
2009-05-05 10:57:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
The size of your xorg.conf is not zero??? Why?
Mine isn't either.
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "False"
EndSection
The size of /etc/X11/xorg.conf is zero. It's a clean install using the
9.04 alternate CD.
Did you upgrade an old Ubuntu and hence keep the old xorg.conf?
Oh, no. I put it in there because I'm used to being able to, er... Zap!
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-06 02:56:16 UTC
Permalink
2 persons told me that the latest version of Xorg could detect hardware
from the HAL layer without a xorg.conf.
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 10:55:01 up 51 min 1 user load average: 4.09 4.29 3.85
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
yowie
2009-05-06 08:36:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2 persons told me that the latest version of Xorg could detect hardware
from the HAL layer without a xorg.conf.
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.

What is the problem anyway?
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-06 09:54:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.

So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?

Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 17:53:02 up 7:49 1 user load average: 1.01 1.18 1.88
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
yowie
2009-05-06 21:17:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.
So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?
I gather it does, yes.
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).

AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.

There's some basic info here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config

I too would like to hear from anyone who really understands this stuff
just out of curiosity.
Palooka
2009-05-06 21:35:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.
So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?
I gather it does, yes.
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
I too would like to hear from anyone who really understands this stuff
just out of curiosity.
I don't pretend to understand xorg.conf but VMware tools seems to insist
on creating one in every VM. This is somewhat inconvenient.

Palooka
yowie
2009-05-06 21:41:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Palooka
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.
So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?
I gather it does, yes.
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
I too would like to hear from anyone who really understands this stuff
just out of curiosity.
I don't pretend to understand xorg.conf but VMware tools seems to insist
on creating one in every VM. This is somewhat inconvenient.
Is there anything in it?
Palooka
2009-05-07 01:03:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Post by Palooka
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.
So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?
I gather it does, yes.
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
I too would like to hear from anyone who really understands this stuff
just out of curiosity.
I don't pretend to understand xorg.conf but VMware tools seems to insist
on creating one in every VM. This is somewhat inconvenient.
Is there anything in it?
Yes. This:

# Xorg configuration created by pyxf86config

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "XWorkAround"
InputDevice "VMware Keyboard" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "VMware Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "VMware Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "VMware SVGA"
Driver "vmware"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "VMware SVGA"
Monitor "vmware"
# Don't specify DefaultColorDepth unless you know what you're
# doing. It will override the driver's preferences which can
# cause the X server not to run if the host doesn't support the
# depth.
Subsection "Display"
# VGA mode: better left untouched
Depth 4
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "vmmouse"
Identifier "VMware Mouse"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ps/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "vmware"
VendorName "VMware, Inc"
HorizSync 1-10000
VertRefresh 1-10000
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection


Palooka
yowie
2009-05-07 08:32:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Palooka
Post by yowie
Post by Palooka
Post by yowie
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Ubuntu largely dropped xorg.conf in Intrepid, IIRC. I was a bit annoyed
because I'm used to tinkering with that file but it all seems to work.
Haven't tried hot-plugging a Wacom tablet yet.
What is the problem anyway?
I didn't know that /etc/X11/xorg.conf could be empty for the latest
version of Xorg.
So Xorg re-detects everything when xorg.conf is zero byte in size?
I gather it does, yes.
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Or does it store detected settings in another file? Where is it?
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
I too would like to hear from anyone who really understands this stuff
just out of curiosity.
I don't pretend to understand xorg.conf but VMware tools seems to insist
on creating one in every VM. This is somewhat inconvenient.
Is there anything in it?
# Xorg configuration created by pyxf86config
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "XWorkAround"
InputDevice "VMware Keyboard" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "VMware Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "VMware Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "VMware SVGA"
Driver "vmware"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "VMware SVGA"
Monitor "vmware"
# Don't specify DefaultColorDepth unless you know what you're
# doing. It will override the driver's preferences which can
# cause the X server not to run if the host doesn't support the
# depth.
Subsection "Display"
# VGA mode: better left untouched
Depth 4
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Driver "vmmouse"
Identifier "VMware Mouse"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ps/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "vmware"
VendorName "VMware, Inc"
HorizSync 1-10000
VertRefresh 1-10000
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "XWorkAround"
Driver "void"
EndSection
Perhaps VMware needs that stuff. Not all distros have dropped xorg.conf
so they use what works on any of them? Just guessing.
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-07 06:25:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
OK. How could I specify something different on top of automatic
xorg.conf, for example, screen size?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 14:23:01 up 1 day 4:19 1 user load average: 2.79 2.89 2.75
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
yowie
2009-05-07 08:27:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
Post by yowie
Don't know. Manual tweaks go in /etc/hal/fdi/policy in xml formatted fdi
files. It's a bit of a mystery to me as well since I've never had to
bother with it. The last time I had to edit xorg.conf was about three
years ago to get my usb graphics tablet working properly. I put the
dontzap line in there by running the script provided (man dontzap).
AFAIK I know you can still put stuff in xorg.conf but there is a risk that
your settings might cause problems with hot pluggable devices.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config
OK. How could I specify something different on top of automatic
xorg.conf, for example, screen size?
I think we've established that ubuntu no longer uses xorg.conf.

Maybe have a play with 'xrandr'?

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-07 09:54:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
Maybe have a play with 'xrandr'?
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution
What if I want to use my own driver rather than relying on automatic
detection (for example, using the latest Nvidia legacy driver (for
example, NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.11-pkg1.run)?

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.11-pkg1.run will create the usual
/etc/X11/xorg.conf. With this new approach, does it mean I only need to
remove everything except the "Modules" and "Device" sections, and expect
automatic detection would use them?
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 17:50:02 up 1 day 7:46 2 users load average: 3.50 3.43 2.99
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
J G Miller
2009-05-07 10:07:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by yowie
I think we've established that ubuntu no longer uses xorg.conf.
Maybe not, but an Ununtu installed Xorg will still use an /etc/X11/xorg.conf
if it contains valid configuration data.
Ted
2009-05-07 10:13:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by J G Miller
Post by yowie
I think we've established that ubuntu no longer uses xorg.conf.
Maybe not, but an Ununtu installed Xorg will still use an /etc/X11/xorg.conf
if it contains valid configuration data.
Mine is not empty but contains...


Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

In both Jaunty and Karmic..
--
Regards
Ted Wager g3tpi
High Peak UK
Using Ubuntu Jaunty Linux
Moog
2009-05-06 22:32:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2009-05-04 00:05 xorg.conf
Where is the actual xorg.conf?
Please read about Xorg and the way it works.
http://www.x.org/wiki/
--
You see my next door neighbour worships exhaust pipes, he's a catholic
converter.
Man-wai Chang ToDie (+MS=V32B)
2009-05-07 06:22:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Moog
Please read about Xorg and the way it works.
http://www.x.org/wiki/
Running to there...
--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Ubuntu 9.04) Linux 2.6.29.2
^ ^ 14:22:01 up 1 day 4:18 1 user load average: 2.82 2.89 2.74
???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ???! ????? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa
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