The Linux/m68k Frame Buffer Device : The X Server
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## 5. The X Server

The X server (XF68_FBDev) is the most notable application program for the frame buffer device. Starting with XFree68/XFree86 release 3.2, the X server is part of XFree68/XFree86 and has 2 modes:

- If the `Display` subsection for the `fbdev` driver in the `/etc/XF86Config` file contains a

  > `

  >             Modes "default"

  > `

  line, the X server will use the scheme discussed above, i.e. it will start up in the resolution determined by `/dev/fb0current` (or `$FRAMEBUFFER`, if set). This is the default for the configuration file supplied with XFree68. It's the most simple configuration (and the only possible one if you want to have a broadcast compatible display, e.g. PAL or NTSC), but it has some limitations.
- Therefore it's also possible to specify resolutions in the `/etc/XF86Config` file. This allows for on-the-fly resolution switching while retaining the same virtual desktop size. The frame buffer device that's used is still `/dev/fb0current` (or `$FRAMEBUFFER`), but the available resolutions are defined by `/etc/XF86Config` now. The disadvantage is that you have to specify the timings in a different format (but `fbset -x` may help) and that you can't have a broadcast compatible display (e.g. no PAL or NTSC).

To tune a video mode, you can use fbset or xvidtune. Note that xvidtune doesn't work 100% with XF68_FBDev: the reported clock values are always incorrect.

There exists also an accelerated X server for the Cybervision 64 graphics board, but that's not discussed here.

The Linux/m68k Frame Buffer Device : The X Server
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Next: Video Mode Timings