## 10.6. Running XFree86

With your XF86Config file configured, you're ready to fire up the X server and give it a spin. First, be sure that /usr/X11R6/bin is on your path.

The command to start up XFree86 is:

>     startx

This is a frontend to `xinit` (in case you're used to using `xinit` on other Unix systems). You can still use `xinit`, which gives you precise control about what exactly is started but requires you to start all needed programs manually.

This command starts the X server and runs the commands found in the file .xinitrc in your home directory. .xinitrc is just a shell script containing X clients to run. If this file does not exist, the system default /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/xinitrc will be used.

You can change the initial display when starting up the X Window System by providing a different .xinitrc in your home directory. The next chapter tells you what you can put in this file.

If you are new to the X Window System environment, we strongly suggest picking up a book such as The X Window System User's Guide by Valerie Quercia and Tim O'Reilly.

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