Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Extensions => TCE Q&A Forum => Topic started by: clusterBuster on September 09, 2009, 09:05:26 PM

Title: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: clusterBuster on September 09, 2009, 09:05:26 PM
Hello. I'm trying to build a linux cluster for rendering purposes and I want to use the tiny core distro to do it. The nodes have to be able to run wine and this requires xorg to get access to the opengl libraries my win-based render node software uses. How do I shut down xvesa and make xorg the default X window system? Thank you for your time.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: ^thehatsrule^ on September 10, 2009, 01:28:15 AM
See the xorg extension, esp. the .info for installation notes
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 10, 2009, 04:14:13 AM
See the xorg extension, esp. the .info for installation notes

Please DO NOT follow .info instructions, it is outdated. Proper steps to setup TC 2.3


Then choose 'Exit to Prompt' in the Logout menu and restart Xorg typing 'startx' command as normal user. During next boot it will come up with Xorg, expecting that above extensions were loaded.

You even do not need any config file, Xorg will do everything itself. It is called 'confless' mode.

If you want to override the automatic settings, create /etc/X11/xorg.conf and add only the relevant sections. Usually it is used to define keyboard layout.

Sample xorg.conf to specify Hungarian keyboard layout, modify it according to your need:

Quote
Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier "Keyboard0"
   Driver "kbd"
   Option "XkbLayout" "hu"
   Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
EndSection

If you have your own xorg.conf add it to /opt/.filetool.lst

Quote
opt/bootlocal.sh
opt/backgrounds
opt/.tcrc
opt/.filetool.lst
opt/.xfiletool.lst
home/tc
etc/X11/xorg.conf

Depending on your graphics hardware, you may need an additional driver installed.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: Juanito on September 10, 2009, 06:00:15 AM
Quote
Depending on your graphics hardware, you may need an additional driver installed.

Yeah, in fact on my machine, the drivers are all there, but I need to manually "modprobe" one of the kernel modules (apgart, intel-apgart or drm, I don't remember which).
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: ^thehatsrule^ on September 10, 2009, 10:37:50 PM
The instructions in the .info should still work for 2.3, although I suppose it could mention what's optional (and things like the new autoxsetup facility).

Also, restarting X should be sufficient (instead of the system)
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 11, 2009, 06:24:43 AM
The instructions in the .info should still work for 2.3, although I suppose it could mention what's optional (and things like the new autoxsetup facility).

Also, restarting X should be sufficient (instead of the system)

Right, restarting X only is enough, I will add it to the text.

While .info instructions work for 2.3 now it takes care of .xsession so do not need to edit it neither to backup. It is so simple. But if the user do not know it, he will make changes what is not needed. Not only wasted time but a risk to do something wrong. This is while I kindly advice to change the .info content.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: tclfan on September 11, 2009, 10:31:01 AM
Right, restarting X only is enough, I will add it to the text.

While .info instructions work for 2.3 now it takes care of .xsession so do not need to edit it neither to backup. It is so simple. But if the user do not know it, he will make changes what is not needed. Not only wasted time but a risk to do something wrong. This is while I kindly advice to change the .info content.
This is remarkable achievement... Just to summarize: with TC 2.3 I no longer need to modify .Xsession to specify Xorg.  The only thing I need to do is:
1. Load Xorg and graphics tcz's
2. Restart X
TinyCore will remember to use Xorg after reboot and run confless?
This means I can actually boot a default TC LiveCD and if on the first boot I do the above, the subsequent boots from default LiveCD will be using Xorg? This is assuming I have a /tce directory somewhere e.g. on usb key, of course...
This is amazing, the simplicity and power of this modular architecture concept...
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: roberts on September 11, 2009, 11:20:47 AM
True. That is how I now have it working in v2.3 and what I mean where in the change log it is stated:
Quote
* Updated xsetup.sh to remove the xorg.conf requirement to support Xorg confless.

So with the proper extensions in your tce directory, a seamless Xorg boot is now possible.

Note: If your sysem still requires a configuration file, then by booting with the text or superuser option will in fact allow you to run Xorg -config and/or create/edit such. Adding it to the backup will then still allow an easy Xorg boot.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: curaga on September 11, 2009, 02:16:38 PM
Edited the Xorg .info files as requested.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 17, 2009, 04:31:15 AM
An article added to WIKI:

Using Xorg over Xvesa (http://wiki.tinycorelinux.com/tiki-index.php?page=Using+Xorg+over+Xvesa)
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: jpeters on September 17, 2009, 02:59:31 PM
An article added to WIKI:

Using Xorg over Xvesa (http://wiki.tinycorelinux.com/tiki-index.php?page=Using+Xorg+over+Xvesa)


Programs that worked with xvesa can also stop working with xorg (eg, skype) (at least with the simple method listed)
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 17, 2009, 03:13:51 PM
Programs that worked with xvesa can also stop working with xorg (eg, skype) (at least with the simple method listed)

Do you have a working Skype? Tell me how...
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: jpeters on September 17, 2009, 07:10:01 PM
Programs that worked with xvesa can also stop working with xorg (eg, skype) (at least with the simple method listed)

Do you have a working Skype? Tell me how...
wine  :)
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 18, 2009, 01:11:23 AM
 :( I hoped you have a top secret native solution  ;)
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: sci_fi on September 19, 2009, 05:34:57 AM
Good morning.

I believe I have found another discrepancy between the .tce libbrary and .tcz library.

I am in the process of converting from the .tce library to the .tcz  per recent comments in other threads. In doing this, I discovered that the process outlined in this thread of "Running xorg over xvesa" does not work with components chosen from  the .tcz library.

Apparently, the install of Xorg.tcz does not write the call of Xorg into the .xsession file. I have not dug deeper trying to determine why.

My .xsession file left over from .tce days worked fine when I used it, instead.

Best Regards,

sci_fi
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 19, 2009, 08:09:21 AM
Good morning.

I believe I have found another discrepancy between the .tce libbrary and .tcz library.

I am in the process of converting from the .tce library to the .tcz  per recent comments in other threads. In doing this, I discovered that the process outlined in this thread of "Running xorg over xvesa" does not work with components chosen from  the .tcz library.

Apparently, the install of Xorg.tcz does not write the call of Xorg into the .xsession file. I have not dug deeper trying to determine why.

My .xsession file left over from .tce days worked fine when I used it, instead.

Best Regards,

sci_fi

Thanks for the feedback. That's right, .tcz doesn't work. Originally in the WIKi article both .tce and .tcz were described but later on I removed reference to .tce expecting .tcz will work. Tests were done with .tce originally :(

Will look for root cause.

Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 19, 2009, 09:11:24 AM
The problem is, that the tczl version of Xorg do not overrites /etc/Xserver as the .tcel version does, therefore startx starts Xvesa.

If you exit to prompt and edit /etc/sysconfig/Xserver and restart X it will work without editing .xession manually.

Solution would be to add a startup script to Xorg to modify /etc/sysconfig/Xserver instead of overwriting. This would be healthy for PPI compatibility too.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: tclfan on September 21, 2009, 09:29:20 AM
Bela,
Thanks for pointing to the source of this issue.  As Xorg is vital to desktop and was made so easy in TC 2.3, could you please describe exactly what needs to be done to fix this for 2.4 from end user perspective?
Is this possible to fix tcz, so it works with 2.4 the easy way, the way it was working with 2.3? Xvesa does not work right with any of my laptops, so extrapolating this experience to other users, keeping Xorg option easy seems pretty much  important...
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 21, 2009, 09:50:54 AM
TCLFUN:

Read WIKI article  (http://wiki.tinycorelinux.com/tiki-index.php?page=Using+Xorg+over+Xvesa) how to use .tcz extension. The key point is

Quote
You can use Xorg-7.4.tczl also. In such case edit /etc/sysconfig/Xserver and replace Xvesa with Xorg. To make it permanent, add /etc/sysconfig/Xserver to /opt/.filetool.lst

This will go away as soon as the Xorg extension will be fixed by its creator.

BTW 2.3 and 2.4RC1 behaves on the same way. Difference is not using 2.3 or 2.4 but .tce or .tcz
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: roberts on September 21, 2009, 10:58:24 AM
I just now uploaded and updated version.
Replaced depreciated user.tar.gz with startup script.
It is working for me.
Please test and if works for you, please update the Wiki.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: tclfan on September 21, 2009, 11:02:50 AM
Bela, Thank you. I understand it is not 2.4 but the tcz for Xorg that caused this setback. Because 2.4 standardizes on tcz (Which is a good move, of course), until tcz for Xorg is fixed we have this inconvenience.
Just hope tcz creator for Xorg will be able to fix this soon...
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: tclfan on September 21, 2009, 12:38:25 PM
I just realized that pending writing my post roberts posted the above...
Does this mean the Xorg tcz is fixed now?
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: bmarkus on September 21, 2009, 02:29:05 PM
Quote
Please test and if works for you, please update the Wiki.

Roberts,

thanks for the new .tczl version. Tested with 2.4rc1 both loaded into RAM and mounted, works as expected. WIKI article edited.

Béla
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: tclfan on September 21, 2009, 02:43:12 PM
Roberts, Bmarkus,
Thanks very much. Greatly appreciated...
Title: Re: Running xorg over xvesa
Post by: roberts on September 21, 2009, 02:59:52 PM
Great! Glad to hear. Thanks for the Wiki update!