---
name: "xserver-configure"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "xserver-common"
version: "3.3.6-11potato32"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xserver-configure"
---

# xserver-configure(8)

configure the X server

## NAME

xserver-configure - configure the X server

## SYNOPSIS

**xserver-configure** \[ --force \]

## DESCRIPTION

**xserver-configure** is a semi-intelligent wrapper around the **XF86Setup**(1) and **xf86config**(1) commands. **xserver-configure** first checks that the */etc/X11/Xserver* file is set up correctly, then determines whether there is a valid */etc/X11/XF86Config* file (see **XF86Config**(5)), and if not, calls the XF86Setup or xf86config programs to do so. **xserver-configure** only attempts to invoke the graphical XF86Setup utility if some prerequisites for its proper operation are met (the xf86setup, xfonts-base, and xfonts-75dpi Debian packages must be installed, as well as the xserver-vga16 package if there is not already a working X server). Otherwise, the non-graphical utility xf86config is used.

Note that for the m68k, PowerPC, and SPARC versions of Debian GNU/Linux, neither of the above utilities are used, because neither of them have been appropriately set up for use with these architectures.  The Xsun X servers do not require configuration, and for framebuffer server and SPARC Mach64 server users, example files exist in the documentation directories of the corresponding server packages.

For m68k and PowerPC machines, the user is prompted to copy the example file to */etc/X11/XF86Config*, and some effort is made to ensure that the */dev/mouse* is in a reasonable state.

If a valid */etc/X11/XF86Config* file is found by **xserver-configure** when it starts, it will exit silently.  If you wish to force reconfiguration of the XFree86 server, append the "force" argument.

## OPTIONS

- \--force

  makes **xserver-configure** behave as if there is no valid */etc/X11/XF86Config* file, even if there is one.

## SEE ALSO

**XF86Config**(5), **XF86Setup**(1), **xf86config**(1)

## DIAGNOSTICS

**xserver-configure** almost always exits with a zero status.  When it does not, one of its internal operations has failed.  The program is written in Bourne shell, so it is possible to perform a trace by setting the -x shell option (for instance, **sh -x** **/usr/sbin/xserver-configure**).

## BUGS

See \<http://bugs.debian.org/xserver-common\>.  If you wish to report a bug in **xserver-configure**, please see */usr/share/doc/debian/bug-reporting.txt*, the [**bug**(1)](/bug/1.md) command, or the [**reportbug**(1)](/reportbug/1.md) command.

## AUTHOR

**xserver-configure** is written and copyrighted by Stephen Early, Mark Eichin, and Branden Robinson.  It is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2. **xserver-configure** is maintained by Branden Robinson, who also wrote this man page.