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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

2026-03-14

  • VATSIM restructured: VATSIM basics first, ATC Flight Planner as dedicated section with guided workflows, Optimal Routes for fully automated flight planning with 100% ATC coverage, and SimBrief integration
  • XEarthLayer updated for v0.3.1: GPU-accelerated DDS encoding, ISPC SIMD compression as default, boundary-driven prefetch system, online network support (VATSIM/IVAO/PilotEdge)
  • AutoOrtho updated for v2.2.0: ~2x faster loading times, SimBrief integration with route-based prefetch, seasons support

2026-03-06

  • How Streaming Works expanded: New section on FUSE congestion bottleneck — explains how low max_background defaults limit concurrent tile requests and cause frame drops at DSF boundaries

2026-02-27

  • Swap & Memory Management, System Tuning, and Tuning Case Study revised: Updated zram recommendations — swappiness=180 + watermark_scale_factor=125 instead of watermark_boost_factor=15000, based on 14 measurement runs. Separate configuration blocks for zram and disk swap, new field notes on dirty ratio tuning and vfs_cache_pressure