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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

2026-08-04

  • Adversarial counter-check of the pages revised on 2026-08-03, with several corrections. Scenery Sources: X-World Pro ships its own Linux installation script, so the manual symlink applies only to the free vegetation library — the previous instruction would have produced a broken Pro install. XPME does document a refund period. Ortho4XP: the "runways follow terrain contours" option disappeared with X-Plane 11, not 12, the Sonny mirror also carries 0.5″ tiles for the Alps, and the forum links now point at the Ortho4XP forum again
  • Smaller precision fixes on the same pages: masking_mode selects a mask algorithm rather than a texture, road_level=1 also includes trunk roads, custom_dem needs GDAL only for non-HGT rasters, and XPAIS Marine Traffic has the complete config and menu, the correct hull fallback and the two design decisions no longer listed as limitations

2026-08-03

  • Ortho4XP rebuilt as a parameter reference: every default verified against the source and corrected, the parameters grouped by topic and extended with min_angle, water_tech, airport coverage and the mask and elevation settings. New chapter Building Packages for Ortho Streaming — how skip_downloads and skip_converts produce mesh-and-terrain-only packages for a streaming layer, with a configuration profile of its own. The four profiles are now complete, paste-ready config fragments
  • New page XPME, a third ortho streaming solution alongside AutoOrtho and XEarthLayer — with an official Linux build, but closed source and freemium: high-resolution ground textures and preloading require a paid subscription, and it conflicts with existing Ortho4XP tiles
  • ToLiss Mods extended by both wing mods: the Durantula Wing Enhancement MOD (new flaps and flap-track fairings, plus wingflex via X-Plane's native wing deflection) and RealWings, which replaces the wing outright with new geometry and 4K textures. Both have a native Linux installer; a note explains why the two should be treated as alternatives
  • New page XPAIS Marine Traffic: live AIS ship traffic from the AISStream feed, rendered at the vessels' real positions — a native Linux plugin, built from source, GPL-3.0. Its repository has been archived since July 2026, which the page states up front, and it explains why X-Plane's own ship traffic has to be switched off alongside it
  • Scenery Sources now covers X-World Pro, SimHeaven's commercial VFR line for X-Plane 12 — what it adds over the free packages, which remain available. Includes the Linux pitfall of the vegetation libraries: the supplied Windows batch file does nothing here

2026-07-27

  • Fact-check across all 46 addon pages: every claim verified against current primary sources. Highlights: AviTab now documents the maintained TeamAvitab fork, LST's developer tooling is a browser-based Web Editor that also runs on Linux, XOrganizer is now sold via the X-Plane.org Store, XPPython3 points to its maintained successor fork, and stagnant projects (XGS, XLinSpeak, TerrainRadar and others) are marked with their last release date