Described below are several methods of starting up the Cygwin/X X Server with a startup utility that optionally starts initial clients (for example, a terminal or a window manager) and performs X server configuration (for example, loading a keyboard modifier map).
Use the custom XWin startup utility startxwin
startxwin is included in the xinit package (installed by following the instructions in the Section called Installing Cygwin/X in Chapter 2), which starts the X server in multiwindow mode along with a single X terminal. Run startxwin by:
using the "XWin Server" shortcut under "Cygwin-X" on the Start Menu
starting it from a MS-DOS shell
Starting /usr/bin/startxwin in a Cygwin shell:
$ startxwin |
double-clicking it in Windows Explorer
Full documentation for startxwin can be read with man startxwin . Note that the special argument -- is used to mark the end of client arguments and the beginning of server options, so, for example, if you wish to start the X server with the -noclipboard option, as described in the Section called Command Line Parameters in Chapter 3, use the following command:
$ startxwin -- -noclipboard |
You may create a ~/.startxwinrc script to customize the client programs started, rather than a single xterm.
Note: The MS-DOS batch file startxwin.bat and bash shell script startxwin.sh previously used to start the X server are no longer provided. Implemented as a script made it difficult to reliably wait until the the X server had started before starting any clients. Use startxwin instead.
Use the standard X Window System startx command with its attendant ~/.xinitrc configuration file.
Run startx in a Cygwin shell:
$ startx |
Full documentation for startx can be read with man startx . Note that the special argument -- is used to mark the end of client arguments and the beginning of server options, so, for example, if you wish to start the X server with the -emulate3buttons option, as described in the Section called Command Line Parameters in Chapter 3, use the following command:
$ startx -- -emulate3buttons |
You may create a ~/.xinitrc from the template in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc and then customize ~/.xinitrc as required
$ cp /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc ~/.xinitrc [edit ~/.xinitrc as desired] |
Advanced users may wish to start the X server by invoking X directly