Installing XFree86
 

I just installed FC4. I installed a couple updates and additions for mp3's and such.

Then I tried to install tightvnc so I can access the gui from work. When I tried to do the rpm of tightvnc it said it required XFree86. I went out and downloaded the tgz file and followed the instructions on the web. I can't post the link, so here are the instructions.


All that is required to install XFree86 is to obtain the above files, create the directory /usr/X11R6 (as root), and unpack the files from /usr/X11R6 with a command such as:

gzip -dc Xbin.tgz | tar xfB -

Remember that these tar files are packed relative to /usr/X11R6, so it's important to unpack the files there.

You need to make sure that /usr/X11R6/bin is on your path. This can be done by editing your system default /etc/profile or /etc/csh.login (based on the shell that you, or other users on your system, use). Or you can simply add the directory to your personal path by modifying .bashrc or .cshrc, based on your shell.

You also need to make sure that /usr/X11R6/lib can be located by ld.so, the runtime linker. To do this, add the line:

/usr/X11R6/lib

to the file /etc/ld.so.conf, and run /sbin/ldconfig, as root.



I unzipped it, but I don't understand what it means by editing your default path and such. So now when I restarted my linux box, it does the hardware initialize but then goes to a black screen with a X mouse pointer. I can ssh into the box, so I have access. I'm guessing the half install of XFree86 is my problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Last question is should I be installing XFree86 or is there something better that does the same thing?

you're seriously heading down the wrong path mate. you would use xorg-x11 these days, not xfree86, from you standard distro cd's. just pick an rpm specifically for fc4.

From the download page, it appears the RPM for 1.2.9 was made for RedHat 7.x, so it requires the outdated XFree86. Here are some of your options you might try:

1. download the "Unix/Linux source code" for TightVNC and compile it

2. use the "development version" RPMs, which say they were made for FC3

3. the Dag 3rd-party repository has RPMs of tightvnc for FC2

4. use RealVNC which comes with FC ("vnc" & "vnc-server" packages)

5. use FreeNX, which provides significant speed improvements over X and VNC over slow connections