X server/upgrade

Note
This article currently (2021) contains only instructions for updates that were required years ago, and should no longer be needed. If a more involved upgrade (that requires instructions) happens again, it should be accompanied by a corresponding news item (that should be read and followed), and may also get a new entry here.

This page lists critical changes that must be considerd before updating to avoid system breakage. Usual X server updates require no special action.

xorg-server 1.17

• x11-drivers/xf86-video-modesetting was merged into xorg-server-1.17 and must be masked if present:

root #echo "=x11-drivers/xf86-video-modesetting" > /etc/portage/package.mask/video-modesetting

xorg-server 1.13

• Rebuild all graphics and input drivers because the ABI changed:

root #emerge --ask @x11-module-rebuild

xorg-server 1.12

• Rebuild all graphics and input drivers because the ABI changed:

root #emerge --ask @x11-module-rebuild

xorg-server 1.11

• Rebuild all graphics and input drivers because the ABI changed:

root #emerge --ask @x11-module-rebuild

xorg-server 1.10

• X.Org server no longer does autodetect devices using x11-drivers/xf86-input-keyboard and x11-drivers/xf86-input-mouse. For input devices to be able to be hotplugged, migrate settings to the evdev driver.

• Rebuild all graphics and input drivers because the ABI changed:

root #emerge --ask @x11-module-rebuild

xorg-server 1.9

• X.Org server can detect input devices using udev, removing its HAL support. Users who used HAL before need to migrate to udev.

• Rebuild all graphics and input drivers because the ABI changed:

root #emerge --ask @x11-module-rebuild