XFree86 Logfile

The XFree86 logfile is a text file, written by the XFree86 program, and designed to be useful for people who are trying to diagnose problems they are having with getting XFree86 to work.

When XFree86 starts, it creates a logfile which contains information about what happened when XFree86 started. It contains information about what modules were loaded, which color depth is used etc. The file is especially useful when something goes awry, as reading it can help you find exactly what went wrong.

The file almost always resides in "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", but where it is placed is configurable.

the following:

01] XFree86 Version 4.3.0 (Red Hat Linux release: 4.3.0-2) 02] Release Date: 27 February 2003 03] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.6 04] Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.20-3bigmem i686 05] Build Date: 27 February 2003 06] Build Host: porky.devel.redhat.com 07] 08] Before reporting problems, check http://www.XFree86.Org/ 09] to make sure that you have the latest version. 10] Module Loader present 11] OS Kernel: Linux version 2.4.20-8 (bhcompile@porky.devel.redhat.com) (gcc version 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5)) #1 Thu Mar 13 17:54:28 EST 2003 12] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, 13] (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, 14] (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. 15] (==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Sat May 15 02:55:42 2004 16] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config"

(Line markers "01]" etc, have been inserted to make the file easier to refer to.)

Line 1-2: Those lines tell us that this is version 4.3.0 and that it was released on February 27, 2003. It's modern enough, although 4.4.0 has been released (February 29, 2004).

Line 3: The X protocol hasn't changed for ages and it is unlikely that it will change anytime soon.

Line 4-6: Build information. That the Build Host is "porky.devel.redhat.com" means that the user, unless he or she is an employee at Red Hat, probably installed XFree86 from a binary rpm package.

Line 10: X managed to find the module loader, which is essential if X is going to use things like hardware accelerated graphics. Further down in the file, X tries to load all modules specified in Section "Module" in XF86Config.

Line 12-14: The different types of messages printed in the log. Lines beginning with "(--)", "(**)", "(==)", "(++)" and "(II)" are OK, the rest indicate errors of varying severity.

'Line 15-16: Where the files are. In this log, they are both in the default location. The time field specifies the date and time of the execution that caused the log. ==