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XoL: Running X-Plane on Linux

This documentation covers setup and optimization of X-Plane 12 (Laminar Research) under Linux. It is aimed at experienced Linux users — a working installation is assumed. The examples are based on Debian but transfer to other distributions with minor adjustments.

Where to Start

  • Why Linux? Introduction explains what makes X-Plane on Linux different.
  • New to X-Plane on Linux? Getting Started covers system requirements, installation, and first launch.
  • X-Plane already running? Performance explains the three load dimensions (CPU, I/O, network) before diving into System Tuning.

About This Documentation

The core focus is on Linux system tuning — kernel parameters, CPU governor, GPU drivers, display server selection, and filesystem optimization — complemented by performance analysis using both X-Plane's built-in tools and Linux monitoring utilities. Additional sections cover scenery management with orthophoto streaming, flight operations including ATC procedures, and a reference catalog of Linux-compatible addons and plugins. The guides are modular — individual topics can be implemented independently or combined as needed.

Contributing

This documentation is an open project. Improvements or additions can be contributed via GitHub:

  • Create issues for bugs or suggestions
  • Submit pull requests for changes
  • Share experiences in the discussions in the footer of this website (e.g., via the Discord link)

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Recent Changes

2026-02-22

  • New page Tuning Case Study — Four measured tuning steps from micro-stutters to stable frame times: memory pressure, IO latency, zram swap, and watermark tuning

2026-02-21

  • New page OSM Offshore Oil Rigs — Worldwide offshore oil platforms as heliports based on OpenStreetMap data, with Mission-X integration for helicopter missions
  • New page How Ortho Streaming Works — X-Plane's texture loading chain, FUSE virtual filesystem, and the common streaming pipeline behind AutoOrtho and XEarthLayer
  • New page Swap & Memory Management — Page reclaim mechanics, swap configuration, zram compression, and tuning recommendations for flight simulation
  • New page Smoke & Steam for SimHeaven — Particle-based smoke and steam effects for X-World chimneys and cooling towers
  • Introduction expanded: X-Plane's open architecture (DataRefs, plugin SDK, open file formats) paired with Linux's open stack as complementary argument, scenery streaming via FUSE added as concrete Linux advantage

2026-02-20

  • New section Autogen with XPNetwork Europa — OSM-based European road, rail, and maritime networks with localized traffic objects
  • New page XP Walkaround — First-person walkaround with flashlight, campsite system, and mouse look, SimpleWalkaround as free alternative
  • System Tuning, Performance, and Filesystem extended: Fact-check against primary sources — refined RAID capacity details, mount options, schedutil/Liquorix interaction, and other specifics
  • Performance: Added MangoHUD warning for Wayland + NVIDIA (missing GPU metrics due to Debian package without NVML)