NAME¶
Xephyr - X server outputting to a window on a pre-existing X display
SYNOPSIS¶
Xephyr [
:display] [
option ...]
DESCRIPTION¶
Xephyr is a kdrive server that outputs to a window on a pre-existing
"host" X display. Think
Xnest but with support for modern
extensions like composite, damage and randr.
Unlike
Xnest which is an X proxy, i.e. limited to the capabilities of the
host X server,
Xephyr is a real X server which uses the host X server
window as "framebuffer" via fast SHM XImages.
It also has support for "visually" debugging what the server is
painting.
OPTIONS¶
The server accepts all the standard options of
Xserver(1) and the following
additional options:
- -screen widthxheight
- sets the screen size.
- -parent id
- uses existing window id . If a -screen argument follows a
-parent argument, this screen is embedded into the given
window.
- -host-cursor
- set 'cursor acceleration': The host's cursor is reused. This is only
really there to aid debugging by avoiding server paints for the cursor.
Performance improvement is negligible.
- -resizeable
- Allow the Xephyr window to be resized, even if not embedded into a parent
window. By default, the Xephyr window has a fixed size.
SIGNALS¶
Send a SIGUSR1 to the server (e.g. pkill -USR1 Xephyr) to toggle the debugging
mode. In this mode red rectangles are painted to screen areas getting painted
before painting the actual content. The delay between this can be altered by
setting a XEPHYR_PAUSE env var to a value in micro seconds.
CAVEATS¶
- •
- Rotated displays are currently updated via full blits. This is slower than
a normal orientated display. Debug mode will therefore not be of much use
rotated.
- •
- The '-host-cursor' cursor is static in its appearance.
- •
- The build gets a warning about 'nanosleep'. I think the various '-D' build
flags are causing this. I haven't figured as yet how to work round it. It
doesn't appear to break anything however.
- •
- Keyboard handling is basic but works.
- •
- Mouse button 5 probably won't work.
SEE ALSO¶
X(7),
Xserver(1)
AUTHOR¶
Matthew Allum <mallum@o-hand.com> 2004