Chapter 11: The X Window System Guide To UNIX Using Linux Third Edition

Chapter 11:The X Window System

Guide To UNIX Using Linux Third Edition

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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

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Objectives

• Use Nautilus

• Run an application

• Configure a desktop

• Shut down a system from the desktop

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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

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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

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What is the X Window System? (continued)

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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

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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

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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

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Using Window Managers (continued)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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Starting the X Window System (continued)

Establishing the default runlevel, or mode of operation

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Starting the X Window System (continued)

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Interacting with the X Window System

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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

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Interacting with Windows (continued)

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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

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Interacting with the Panel

• Panel appears at bottom of GNOME desktop

• Features Main Menu (hat), Pager, clock, applications

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Using the GNOME Pager

• Pager is an applet

• Includes:

– Workspace Shifter (virtual desktops)

– Window List (running applications)

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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

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Using Nautilus (continued)

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Using Nautilus (continued)

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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

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Running an Application (continued)

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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

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Configuring the Desktop (continued)

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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

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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

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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

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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