Graphics Administration Guide (July 2008)

Grayed out screen icons represent screens that have not been configured for use by the
X Server. You can select these grayed out icons and choose the Add Screen to
Configuration menu item to add screens to the XF86Config file.
More information on configuration of the X Server and each of the above actions can
be obtained from SAM/SMH on-line Help.
using setmon to configure the monitor
setmon is a configuration tool used to change the monitor settings for a monitor attached
to a graphics device. This tool permits you to change the monitor's refresh rate and
frame buffer resolution. To change the monitor setting, the setmon command can be
executed directly or done through SAM/SMH.
The setmon executable is located at /opt/graphics/common/bin/setmon. Under
SAM/SMH this component is located under the top-level “Display” panel, under
“Monitor Configuration”.
NOTE: Changing the monitor type while the X Server is running will necessitate
killing and restarting the X Server. In order to change the monitor settings, the X Server
needs to be running on the device specified. For these graphics cards, it may not be
possible to test some of the monitor settings before making the change permanent.
the XF86Config file
The XF86Config file is located in /etc/X11/XF86Config. It can be generated
automatically or modified using SAM/SMH. A working configuration file is also
delivered on the system. You must be root to create or edit this file. The XF86Config
man page provides additional information regarding the configuration file. It is
necessary to re-start the X Server for changes made to the XF86Config file to take effect.
the XF86Config file format
Most of the content in this section has been copied from the XF86Config(5) man page
listed on “The XFree86 Project, Inc.” web site (http://www.xfree86.org). The man pages
are available from http://www.xfree86.org/4.2.0
Config file keywords are case-insensitive, and underscore “_” characters are ignored.
Most strings (including Option names) are also case-insensitive, and insensitive to
white space and underscore “_” characters.
Each config file entry usually takes up a single line in the file. They consist of a keyword,
which is possibly followed by one or more arguments, with the number and types of
the arguments depending on the keyword. The argument types are:
• Integer - an integer number in decimal, hex or octal
• Real - a floating point number
• String - a string enclosed in double quote marks (“)
the XF86Config file 13