xfs

Start font server

$ xfs

$ xfs -config [/etc/X11/fs/config]

$ xfs -port [7100]

$ xfs -daemon

$ xfs -user [nobody]

xfs [options]

xfs is the X Window System font server. It provides fonts to X servers over the network, allowing centralized font management for multiple X displays.
X servers can be configured to request fonts from xfs instead of (or in addition to) local font directories. This was useful for thin clients and diskless workstations sharing fonts from a server.
Configuration defines font paths, client limits, and network settings. The server listens on TCP port 7100 by default.

-config file

Configuration file (default: /etc/X11/fs/config).

TCP port to listen on (default: 7100).

Fork to background.

Drop root privileges after startup.

Run as specified user.

Listen socket queue length.

Config file: /etc/X11/fs/config
Defines catalogue (font paths), client-limit, and clone-self settings.

Deprecated in favor of client-side font rendering (fontconfig/FreeType). Most modern systems don't use xfs. Network font access has security implications. Legacy application only.

xfs was developed for the X Window System to centralize font management. With the transition to client-side rendering using fontconfig and FreeType, xfs became largely obsolete. It remains available for legacy X applications requiring server-side fonts.

fc-cache(1), xlsfonts(1), xset(1), mkfontdir(1)