Xorg

X Window System display server

TLDR

Start X server on default display

$ Xorg

Start on specific display

$ Xorg :1

Configure and test without starting

$ Xorg -configure

Start with specific config file

$ Xorg -config [/path/to/xorg.conf]

Start on specific virtual terminal

$ Xorg vt7

Query supported modes for display

$ Xorg -query [hostname]

Retro probe only (no server start)

$ Xorg -retro -probeonly

Xorg is the X Window System server implementation from X.Org Foundation. It provides the foundation for graphical user interfaces on Unix-like systems, managing displays, input devices, and graphics hardware.The server reads configuration from /etc/X11/xorg.conf or files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/. Modern systems often run without explicit configuration, relying on automatic hardware detection.Xorg is typically started by a display manager (GDM, SDDM, LightDM) or the startx script rather than directly. It runs on a virtual terminal and provides the display connection for X clients.

PARAMETERS

:DISPLAY

Display number to use (default: 0).

-config FILE

Use specified configuration file instead of default.

-configure

Probe hardware and generate xorg.conf.

-logfile FILE

Write log to specified file.

-modulepath PATH

Search path for loadable modules.

-retro

Start with classic X stipple background.

-probeonly

Probe hardware without starting server.

-query HOST

Connect to XDMCP host.

-verbose [N]

Verbosity level (0-7).

vtN

Use virtual terminal N.

-nolisten PROTO

Disable listening on protocol (e.g., tcp).

-novtswitch

Don't automatically switch VT at startup.

INSTALL

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-core

sudo pacman -S xorg-server

sudo apk add xorg-server

brew install xorg-server

nix profile install nixpkgs#xorg-server

CAVEATS

Running Xorg requires appropriate permissions (typically root or membership in video group). Many systems now use Wayland compositors instead of Xorg. Configuration errors can leave the system without a graphical interface; keep a backup configuration or use fallback options.

HISTORY

X.Org Server is the successor to XFree86 and the reference implementation of the X Window System. The X.Org Foundation was formed in 2004 after a licensing dispute with XFree86. Xorg has been the standard X server on Linux and BSD systems, though Wayland is increasingly replacing it for desktop use.