Remote font server etc.

X Error of failed request: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
        Major opcode of failed request: 51 (X_SetFontPath)
        Value in failed request: 0x8
        Serial number of failed request: 8
        Current serial number in output stream: 10

Basically this means that the machine you gave the command to could not add the font specification found in the current directory to the server for the display you are using. Assuming that mkfontdir ran without problems and created the necessary files, this message usually occurs when the machine controlling the display and the one you are issuing commands to are different. This generally happens when you are on an Xterm (including rlogin/telnet sessions from remote hosts) or when your console's X server is using a remote font server for its fonts.

• If you are on an dumb Xterm you must either (a) add the font directories to the Xterm configuration files or (b) install the greek fonts in the system directories where the Xterms get their fonts from. In order to accomplish (a) you must find where the necessary files are and this may not be trivial if you don't know what you're doing. Look at the Xterm Setup screen for clues. If you are lucky enough and your setup allows a user configuration file in your home directory you simply have to add the xset fp+ command (from install_fonts) in that file. Your system administrator may be able to help you. Option (b) is certainly simpler, because the configuration of the Xterm remains the same and all you have to do is move the fonts directory to the right position in the system and reboot your Xterm. This must be done by your system administrator unless you have root proviledges (and know where the system fonts are).

• If the font server runs on a different machine than the one you are using (remote font server), you cannot install fonts without having superuser priviledges on the machine that runs the font server (or the cooperation of somebody with such priviledges). You can identify this situation by the output of the command xset q. If the entry titled "font path" contains the name of a machine (and a port number) instead of a list of directory paths, then the machine listed is the remote server. Have the adminstrator of that machine install the greek fonts in that system, at the location used by the font server.

The hardest part of the installation in the above cases may be to convince the sysadmin to give 10 minutes of his/her time, because many sysadmins may not understand what the fuss is all about. Your sysadmin need only create a directory on the filesystem where you put the bdf (or pcf) files so that they become visible to the font server. Then you follow the same steps as in the general instructions:

 mkfontdir
 xset fp+ remote-font-server-directory 
 xset fp  rehash 

Before you write to us, please read I still cannot read greek.

Back to main page