Ubuntu 8.10: HAL .fdi files replace xorg.conf

Posted Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:38 by dominic

With the release of Ubuntu 8.10 comes a relatively radical change from the norm; The obsolescence of the xorg.conf file!

The xorg.conf file is now replaced with the use of .fdi files that can be "plugged" and "unplugged" without the need to restart the computer.  More information on the usage of these fdi files can be found on Ubuntu's wiki site. Overall they provide more flexibility then the previous xorg.conf syntax, make use of XML, and allow for "matching" or "pairing" if the system has enabled components.

Here's a .fdi file I whipped up for my touchpad that I called touchpad.fdi and placed in my /etc/hal/fdi/policy folder as per the wiki's instructions.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<deviceinfo version="0.2">
<device>
<match key="input.x11_driver" string="synaptics">
<merge key="input.x11_options.SendCoreEvents" type="string">true</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.Device" type="string">/dev/psaux</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.Protocol" type="string">auto-dev</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.HorizEdgeScroll" type="string">0</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig" type="string">on</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.FingerLow" type="string">7</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.FingerHigh" type="string">8</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.MinSpeed" type="string">0.60</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.MaxSpeed" type="string">1.10</merge>
<merge key="input.x11_options.AccelFactor" type="string">0.030</merge>
</match>
</device>
</deviceinfo>

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Comments

What wiki ? Thanks! This

by dred (not verified) - 11/24/2008 - 23:01

What wiki ?

Thanks!

This whole HAL thing is a kick in the nads, xorg.conf wiped out with no indication of how to modify the config.

Well done ubuntu, you suck ass!

Re: What wiki ? Thanks! This

by dominic - 11/26/2008 - 01:45

I'm sorry the link is not very visible at first glance. The direct link to the HAL wiki is https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Input#hal

The change to totally wipe out the xorg.conf file is rather drastic. However, in a sense necessary. How many windows installations do you remember using where you had to edit a window.conf file to get your devices working correctly? None, and I think this is what will "eventually" be accomplished.. Though it's still a long, buggy, broken road ahead.