x-and-hal-on-gentoo

Instructions for installing xorg-server and hal on gentoo.

I’m writing this because the gentoo documentation for X setup is very outdated. Gentoo now uses xorg 1.5 which uses hal to setup devices automatically instead of having to configure /etc/X11/xorg.conf. The Xorg 1.5 update guide might be a little helpful, but it’s missing some info and is a bit vague in places.

Xorg-server 1.5 setup

Make sure your kernel is compiled with Event interface support. (If not, see Gentoo Handbook: Configuring the kernel for help recompiling your kernel)

Device Drivers --->
 
Input device support --->
 
--- Input device support
[*]     Event interface

Add X and hal USE flags (the “–alpha-order” is optional, but I like to keep my USE flags organized)

flagedit --alpha-order +hal +X

(or equivalently with euse. euse is from the app-portage/gentoolkit package)

euse -E hal X

Add to /etc/make.conf

INPUT_DEVICES="evdev"
# Change the video driver to match your video card
# or install a bunch and let hal choose
VIDEO_DRIVER="nv nvidia radeon radeonhd intel sis via vesa fbdev"

Install xorg-server (which will also install hal since the hal USE flag is now enabled)

emerge -av xorg-server

Add hal policy files so hal can auto-detect your devices. Doesn’t hurt to add them all, hal will figure out what it needs.

cp /usr/share/hal/fdi/policy/10osvendor/* /etc/hal/fdi/policy

Add hald to startup and start hald

rc-config add hald default
/etc/init.d/hald start

Don’t need any /etc/X11/xorg.conf file

mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

Now startx

startx