Official Course Outline
Temporary Course Webpage
Subject Description
This subject introduces the student to the X Window System. Students will learn how to plan, set up, troubleshoot, customize and use an X system. Particular attention will be paid to security and network issues with emphasis on the KDE and GNOME desktop environments.
Credit Status
1 credit in the LUX program
Prerequisites
Meet admission requirements for LUX
Specific Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Plan, implement, and administer an X System installation, taking into account network, security, and hardware issues
- Understand display hardware issues and recommend a display hardware configuration to meet specified requirements
- Identify the components of the X Window System and the purpose of each
- Start an X server using the commands startx, xinit, X, and xdm/gdm/kdm
- Start an X server with no session, local session management, and queried, broadcast, and indirect remote session management
- Download, install, configure and use KDE (K Desktop Environment)
- Download, install, configure and use the XFree86/Xouvert server software and utilities
- Download, install, configure and use VNC (Virtual Network Computer)
- Configure and use common X client applications
- Download, install, configure and use the Gnome desktop environment
Topic Outline
Tentative Topic Outline
Emphasize the layered approach (Section 1.5 in book) |
Display and User Interface Hardware and Technology - Displays, graphics cards, USB devices |
Starting and Using the X Server - using VTs - startx - display managers - xdmcp - manually starting the X server |
Standard X Programs and Utilities - Chapter 6 in book - Useful for analyzing and debugging |
Installing and Configuring the X Window Server
- Auto-configuration
- No config file
- Self-generated config file
- Configuration tools (e.g., system-config-display in Fedora)
- Using the x.org configuration file
|
Fonts, Colours, and Keyboards |
Integrated X Desktop Environments
- KDE
- GNOME
- XFCE
- Others
|
X and Wide Area Networking
- The three challenges (13.7 in book)
- Privacy
- Access control
- Network performance (bandwidth and latency)
- Xauth
- ssh
|
X and VNC |
Building a Kiosk
- This is a useful topic because it lets the students split the
different layers apart and recombine them as they see fit.
|
== Useful X-Windows Resources ==
Fill in as you wish...