The X Window System

1
Guide To UNIX Using Linux Third Edition

• Chapter 11
• The X Window System

2
Objectives

• Describe the X Window system and its
  client/server model
• Understand the role of the Window Manager
• Start the X Window system
• Interact with the X Window system and use its
  components

3
Objectives

• Use Nautilus
• Run an application
• Configure a desktop
• Shut down a system from the desktop

4
What is the X Window System?

• GUI that runs on Linux and many UNIX operating
  systems
• Programmers may develop applications that run on
  the X Window system and support GUI components,
  such as windows, dialog boxes, buttons, and
  pull-down menus

5
What is the X Window System? (continued)

• Originally created at MIT
• Created for different hardware, running different
  variations of UNIX/Linux
• All look and feel the same to the user

6
What is the X Window System? (continued)
7
X Window Clients and Servers

• You can use the X Window system to run
• Programs stored on your local computer
• Applications over the network
• X Window uses a client/server model in which a
  program can run on one computer but display its
  output on another

8
X Window Clients and Servers (continued)

• The desktop system from which you run a program
  is called the X server
• The system that hosts and executes the program is
  called the X client
• This is the opposite of normal networking
  terminology

9
Using Window Managers

• X Window System is layered and built from
  components
• Top layer is the Window Manager
• Window Manager
• Controls how windows appear
• Determines how users control windows

10
Using Window Managers (continued)
11
Using a Desktop

• A desktop provides
• A specific GUI appearance
• Specific software applications
• Other resources
• Closely integrated with a Window Manager
• Common UNIX/Linux desktops include
• GNOME
• KDE

12
Using GNOME

• GNOME is
• GNU Network Object Model Environment
• A product of the GNU project
• Most popular desktop
• Very user-friendly
• Many applications (file-access, office, general
  utilities)

13
Using KDE

• Can be installed alongside GNOME
• More popular internationally
• Offers a broader range of drag-and-drop
  capabilities
• Both KDE and GNOME are compatible with X11 and
  various Window Managers

14
Starting the X Window System

• Can be started from the command line with the
  startx command
• Linux can be configured to start X Window System
  automatically
• Set the runlevel in the /etc/inittab file
• For automatic startup, runlevel must be 5
• Requires superuser privileges

15
Starting the X Window System (continued)
Establishing the default runlevel, or mode of
operation
16
Starting the X Window System (continued)
17
Interacting with the X Window System
18
Interacting with Windows

• Window components provide window functionality
  including
• Title bar
• Window Menu button
• Minimize Window button
• Maximize/Unmaximize Window button
• Close Window button
• Status bar
• View pane

19
Interacting with Windows (continued)
20
More About the Window Menu Button

• The Window Menu button shown in previous figure
  provides options including
• Minimize
• Maximize/unmaximize
• Roll up/Unroll
• Move
• Resize
• Close
• Workspace options

21
Interacting with the Panel

• Panel appears at bottom of GNOME desktop
• Features Main Menu (hat), Pager, clock,
  applications

22
Using the GNOME Pager

• Pager is an applet
• Includes
• Workspace Shifter (virtual desktops)
• Window List (running applications)

23
Using Nautilus

• Nautilus is a file management tool
• View files and folders
• Create folders
• Delete and move files and folders
• Copy and paste files and folders
• Configure permissions
• Open a file or start a program
• Access the Internet
• Manage bookmarks

24
Using Nautilus (continued)
25
Using Nautilus (continued)
26
Running an Application

• GNOME has a Run Application feature on the Main
  Menu
• Can run application or view possible applications
• Sample applications include
• Add/Remove Applications
• CD Writer
• Dictionary
• Mozilla Web browser

27
Running an Application (continued)
28
Configuring the Desktop

• Can customize many aspects of the X Window System
• Change background
• Change screensaver
• Configure Panel
• Add a menu to the Panel
• Add a new Panel

29
Configuring the Desktop (continued)
30
Shutting Down from the GNOME Desktop

• Proper shutdown important
• Ensure files are closed
• Protect integrity of file system
• Use GNOME Main Menu Log Out option

31
Chapter Summary

• The X Window System is a graphical user interface
  (GUI) that runs many on UNIX and Linux systems
• The top layer of the X Window System is the
  Windows Manager
• Desktops are used with a Window Manager,
  providing specific appearance, applications, and
  resources

32
Chapter Summary (continued)

• X Window System can start automatically or can be
  started from the command line
• Interact with X Windows through desktop
  components
• Interact with specific windows through window
  components
• GNOME provides multiple virtual desktops called
  workspaces

33
Chapter Summary (continued)

• The GNOME panel provides access to the Pager,
  Main Menu, applications
• Nautilus is a GNOME file manager
• Various applications can be run from the Main
  Menu in GNOME
• GNOME Main Menu can be used to safely shut down
  the system