x86 Configuring Peripherals

The kdmconfig program is used to configure the mouse, graphics adapter, and monitor on an x86 system. If an OWconfig file already exists, kdmconfig will extract any usable information from it. In addition, this updated version of kdmconfig will also retrieve information left in the devinfo tree by the devconf program, and use that information to automatically identify devices. Any attribute values, such as manufacturer or model information, returned by probes for a given device (unless it is "Unknown") take precedence over the value received for the same attribute from the OWconfig file.

If all attribute values in the Confirm Configuration screen are obtained (none are "Unknown"), the default choice is Save and Exit Configuration. If information is needed, the program selects the first Unknown device as the default configuration selection. You can override the default selection by either selecting another device you want to configure or by selecting Save and Exit Configuration instead. When you exit, kdmconfig checks for Unknown devices and warns you about potential problems with the X Window System if values are missing. After reading the warnings, you can either continue with the configuration or exit the program and configure the devices later.

The changes regarding the sequence of screens for configuring individual devices are

• You can now choose one of the ports (COM1 to COM4, /dev/tty00 to /dev/tty03, respectively) when configuring a serial mouse.

• When configuring a Graphics Card/Monitor, users are now always presented with the choice of monitors following the selection of the graphics card, and the choices on other screens that follow (such as resolution and the like) depend on both card and monitor selections.

The program is similar to the previous version with regard to the character user interface and the function keys used to navigate within the program.

For addition information regarding the kdmconfig program, see the kdmconfig(1M) man page.