Re: Which X server?

On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:43:15 +0100, number6 wrote:

So I'm familiar with the fact that many window mangers exist but wasn't
aware of the prevalence of different X servers. :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:X_servers

One learns something new on any good day :-)

Being as my current linux mission is efficiency on old hardware which X
server will best suit?

There's no answer possible without more knowledge of the hardware. Some
old hardware has really efficient Xorg drivers (3dfx springs to mind) and
some old hardware struggles to run Xorg. And some, like many old Toshiba
laptops, won't run Xvesa at all.

I understand puppy linux uses Xvesa but

Why would you consider Puppy Linux when looking for efficiency on old
hardware? Puppy runs fast on modern hardware, but is a pig on anything
with limited resources. Look at efficient and well-designed distros
instead. SliTaz is amazing, and Deli Linux will run on stuff that won't
even boot Puppy.

understand this is fast but will run all code without discrimination and
so potentially unsafe. Comments regarding this please.

Xvesa lacks some of the access controls of Xorg related to remote host
execution. How many successful system compromises are you aware of due
to X hacking? Are you providing remote X services to machines outside
your LAN? If not, then stop worrying irrationally.

I presume XFree86 is the most well developed? Do any other servers
compare in terms of features?

Most people would say Xorg is the most well developed these days, XFree86
is so 1990's....
.

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