X and xorg.conf

[cwr]

I've recently updated from xorg-server 1.13.1 to 1.16.4; xorg-x11 stays at
1.7.4-r2 and the kernel is unchanged. However, running X (no desktop, just
xterms) gets me a black screen unless I add an xorg.conf file. I haven't
used an xorg.conf file for five years or so, and this is a brand-new install.
Does anyone know why xorg.conf has made a comeback?

Another problem is that the keyboard comes up as "us" and not "gb"; setxkbmap
corrects this, but setting the correct option in xorg.conf doesn't. Any ideas?

Thanks - Will

[charles17]

Your /var/log/Xorg.0.log would be helpful answering your questions.
Also, have a look at Xorg/Configuration#Configuring_the_keyboard.

[krinn]

-> https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-6760516.html#6760516

For the xorg.conf comeback: no idea if it really come back, i never left it myself anyway
But if you have more than one drivers that could handle your card, xorg will try them (i don't really know the order logic) and the first able to run the card will be use.
It mean you can run for months the nvidia blob and nouveau and nouveau wasn't working for your card, so xorg try nouveau and then the blob...
Now if you have an update nouveau that have add support for your card, the game change and nouveau is loaded, and the autodetection looks a failure without an xorg.conf stating you want the blob drivers.

Without changing xorg just adding a new driver may do what you get, like adding vesa and boom, xorg load vesa...
If you want make sure the xorg without a conf works, don't let xorg guess drivers and only offer it the one you need, so it will have no choice except taking the good one or fail.
What xorg is doing without the conf is in its log ; the autodetection of xorg is a trial and error.

[cwr]

Thanks, I'll try cutting down the driver options. Odd it should break after four years
or so of Gentoo on this hardware (and without changing the kernel).

Will