Installation of the X-Server was very straight forward and extremely close to the standard Xfree86 server set up. Begin by making sure you are booting to run level 3 (text mode login) instead of run level 5 (graphical login). If you are unsure how to do this, the instruction booklet provides concise guidelines on changing your run level. Reboot your machine.

As with most configuration, you will need to be logged in as the superuser to make the necessary system changes. Then simply mount your CD-ROM and change directory to that new mount point. Type the command ./Install and we are off and running.

The configuration interface will be very familiar to anyone who has installed or configured a typical X Windows system. Text based selection for setting your mouse, keyboard, the proper video card and your monitor. After saving your configuration, simply execute the command:

/usr/X11R6/bin/Xaccel

You should then be presented with a "splash screen" of the 3D Accelerated X logo. At this point, you know the installation was successful. Congratulations. However, at this point, I received a blank screen on my monitor and not the "splash page" as specified in the instructions. Being somewhat used to working with tweaking standard X Windows configurations, I immediately wanted to look at what might have gone wrong in the configuration. Unfortunately, the standard Ctrl+Alt+Bcksp would not get me back to text mode. Unable to get any response from the system, I had to do the unthinkable and reboot without a shutdown.

My first thought was to check my monitor configuration. It was the only piece of hardware not specifically listed in the server and I had set my own refresh rates in customizing the monitor. This time through the installation, I chose one of the standard, default setting which was easily within range of my monitor's settings and tried to run the installation test once more. Once again, a blank screen. At this point I was extremely glad to be using a test machine and nothing with pertinent data, as I had to reboot once again without shutdown. After several more unsuccessful attempts at getting the display server to work, (following the very limited ideas in the "trouble shooting" section of the instruction booklet, I decided to try out the free 30 days of installation support from Xi Graphics that came with the display server.

Response was relatively quick, within 24 hours I had some suggestions from support on a few more things to try. Unfortunately, none of them worked on my system. Thus began a daily e-mail process of me trying suggestions, forwarding relevant files, processes and data to Xi Graphics and trying each new suggestion put to me. By the end of about ten days and 17 e-mails, Xi staff had written a special driver for my monitor, examined all of my configuration and out put and returned the reply: "We are stumped." At this point, staff suggested I be put on a waiting list to have my X server examined by them in an effort to recreate the problem on their system locally.

This suggestion brought several questions quickly to mind; Why was there a waiting list? Where there enough significant problems with the product that a waiting list for fixes was necessary? (In subsequent e-mails, I was informed that all work is placed on a waiting list. Everything from customers wanting new, custom drivers to warranty work. While this better explained the waiting list, it also begged the question: Why do customers who have already paid have to wait in line behind those who haven't paid or received products yet?) How long would it be before I could get my product looked at? All I was told was that I was now on the waiting and would be e-mailed when my turn came. More than a little frustrating after spending $250.00 for the X server and another $100.00 for the video card.

A week later, I still have received no notification concerning when I might get my X server in to be looked at and am considering cutting my losses and trying to sell the video card for whatever I can get out of it. I finally decided to check the newsgroups to see if my fellow Linux users had anything to say about the server. Unfortunately, I found only two relevant posts. One positive, one negative.

At this point, I simply cannot recommend this server as an alternative to the standard Xfree86 server due to the problems I experienced and the inability to even get the test display to show on a configuration confirmed good by the manufacturer. If you truly feel the need to try and get an accelerated driver working for you, I highly recommend that you choose one of the cards that has it's own Linux Graphics Driver (LGP) and is available for $29.00 as a download.

This type of product is exactly what Linux needs to make itself a more viable desktop operating system for the average user. However, until problems such as the ones I faced are nailed down, or service is such that products can be replaced in these situations instead of waiting for repair, Linux will have to wait for the Open Source community to successfully implement higher functions. Should my server ultimately be checked and the X server begin to work on my system, I will post an addendum to this review to let you know.

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