Understanding video configuration

The Video Configuration Manager derives the configuration choices it provides from three sources:

• grafinfo (graphics adapter information) files

• moninfo (monitor information) files

• device (function key) files

When you run the Video Configuration Manager, it stores your configuration settings in the /usr/lib/grafinfo/grafdev and /usr/lib/grafinfo/grafmon files. On startup, the X server uses the information in these files and the appropriate grafinfo and moninfo files to interact correctly with your system's video hardware.

The grafinfo and moninfo files are ASCII text files that are located in subdirectories of the /usr/lib/grafinfo directory. These files describe the attributes of the graphics adapters and monitors that are supported by the Graphical Environment. The grafinfo files use the name of the particular adapter they describe and an .xgi extension (for example, wonder.xgi); the moninfo files use the name of the particular monitor they describe and a .mon extension (for example, 8514.mon).

The Video Configuration Manager reads the function key (or devices) files at system startup to associate ttys with function keys. These text files are located in the /usr/lib/vidconf/devices directory and contain the device driver names for all the programmed function keys on the console (<F1> through <F12>), as well as the device driver name for the console. The console driver is used when the system is running in single-user mode.

See also:

• ``Understanding resolutions''

• ``Generic driver configuration''

• ``Understanding multi-monitor configuration''