---
name: "XF86Config"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "xserver-common"
version: "4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge7"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XF86Config/7"
---

# XF86Config(7)

XFree86 X server configuration

## NAME

XF86Config - XFree86 X server configuration

## DESCRIPTION

The Debian system supports simultaneous installation of XFree86 version 3 and version 4 servers. To accomodate this simultaneity, the names of several utilities and manual pages had to be changed from their upstream defaults.

### XFree86 4.*x* Server Configuration

There is only one server package for XFree86 4.*x*, **xserver-xfree86**, corresponding to the single server binary. (Modules supporting various hardware are loaded on demand by the server, and most XFree86 server modules that exist are available as part of the package.)

Information about the XFree86 X server is available in the [**XFree86**(1x)](/XFree86/1x.md) manual page. The format of the version 4 server configuration file is given in [**XF86Config-4**(5x)](/XF86Config-4/5x.md), and the upstream, text-based configuration tool for the version 4 server is documented in [**xf86config**(1x)](/xf86config/1x.md), Note, however, that usage of the [**debconf**(7)](/debconf/7.md) configuration process is preferred. To reconfigure the X server using **debconf**, simply run

**dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86**.

**In the Debian system, the only supported location for the XFree86** **4.***x* **server configuration file is** */etc/X11/XF86Config-4***.** The XFree86 server program will look in a variety of locations, but */etc/X11/XF86Config-4* is the only one supported by Debian for xserver-xfree86. The reason for this strict policy is to reduce confusion.

When reporting bugs to the Debian Bug Tracking System in xserver-xfree86, be sure to include a copy of your */etc/X11/XF86Config-4* and */var/log/XFree86.0.log* (or whichever log file the X server used — see [**XFree86**(1x)](/XFree86/1x.md)) files in the bug report. Many problems with the X server are the result of poor configuration. Furthermore, this information aids the Debian Developers in determining your hardware scenario.

### XFree86 3.*x* Server Configuration

**Note that as of September 2003, packages of XFree86** **3.***x* **are no longer supported by the Debian Project.** This information in this section is provided as a convenience for users who must, for whatever reason, keep XFree86 3.*x* packages installed on their systems. Please note that the XFree86 3.*x* codebase is not maintained by anyone, even for security fixes. If you run XFree86 3.*x* on your system, you may be vulnerable to CAN-2002-0164, CAN-2003-0063, CAN-2003-0071, CAN-2003-0690, CAN-2003-0730, CAN-2004-0083, CAN-2004-0084, CAN-2004-0093, CAN-2004-0094, CAN-2004-0106, CAN-2004-0687, CAN-2004-0688, and CAN-2004-0914 (as indexed by the MITRE CVE project ⟨URL: http://cve.mitre.org/cve/ ⟩), among other flaws.

Version 3 XFree86 X server packages include:

- **xserver-3dlabs**

  - **xserver-8514**

  - **xserver-agx**

  - **xserver-fbdev**

  - **xserver-i128**

  - **xserver-mach32**

  - **xserver-mach64**

  - **xserver-mach8**

  - **xserver-mono**

  - **xserver-p9000**

  - **xserver-s3**

  - **xserver-s3v**

  - **xserver-svga**

  - **xserver-tga**

  - **xserver-vga16**

  - **xserver-w32**

  Information common to all version 3 XFree86 X servers is available in the [**XFree86-v3**(1x)](/XFree86-v3/1x.md) manual page. The format of the version 3 server configuration file is given in [**XF86Config-v3**(5x)](/XF86Config-v3/5x.md), and the upstream, text-based configuration tool for version 3 servers is documented in [**xf86config-v3**(1x)](/xf86config-v3/1x.md). Note, however, that usage of the [**debconf**(7)](/debconf/7.md) configuration process is preferred. To reconfigure the X server using **debconf**, simply run

**dpkg-reconfigure** *package*

where *package* is one of the above listed packages (whichever is appropriate for your hardware).

**In the Debian system, the only supported location for the XFree86** **3.***x* **server configuration file is** */etc/X11/XF86Config***.** The X server programs will look in a variety of locations, but */etc/X11/XF86Config* is the only one supported by Debian for the server packages listed above. The reason for this strict policy is to reduce confusion.

When reporting bugs to the Debian Bug Tracking System in any of the above listed packages, be sure to include a copy of your */etc/X11/XF86Config* file in the bug report. If possible, please also include the X server ouput, which can be preserved by redirecting to a file. For instance:

**startx \>$HOME/xserver.log 2\>&1**

Many problems with the X server are the result of poor configuration. Furthermore, this information aids the Debian Developers in determining your hardware scenario.

Please note that most modern hardware is better supported by the version 4.*x* release series of XFree86. The XFree86 4.*x* X server is packaged as xserver-xfree86. The version 3.*x* XFree86 X servers are no longer maintained upstream, and it is unlikely that bugs in those servers will ever be fixed.

## AUTHOR

Branden Robinson wrote this manual page.

## SEE ALSO

[**XF86Config-4**(5x)](/XF86Config-4/5x.md), [**XF86Config-v3**(5x)](/XF86Config-v3/5x.md), [**XFree86**(1x)](/XFree86/1x.md), [**XFree86-v3**(1x)](/XFree86-v3/1x.md), [**xf86config**(1x)](/xf86config/1x.md), [**xf86config-v3**(1x)](/xf86config-v3/1x.md), [**debconf**(7)](/debconf/7.md), [**dpkg-reconfigure**(8)](/dpkg-reconfigure/8.md)