Crossfire should install and run on any Linux variant that supports X and has the libraries which Crossfire requires.

This page addresses installation and running of Crossfire software. For instructions related to setup and use of a Linux development environment to build Crossfire software, refer to the Linux Developer index page.

Crossfire is available in all Debian distributions; oldstable, stable, testing and unstable.

The easiest way to install Crossfire on Debian is to use the Debian package system and repository. The version there may lag somewhat behind the latest release, but it will be tested for Debian and automatically install any needed dependencies.

To stay current with the latest Crossfire development, see the Linux Developer index page where resources related to toolchain setup and source compilation are listed.

Installation of the client has a similar syntax. You'll need to chose which client you want to install, or if you install any (or all of) the three - which one you'll actually use for game play.

$ apt-get install crossfire-client-x11

$ apt-get install crossfire-client-gtk

$ apt-get install crossfire-client-gtk2

To launch the client, hit alt+f2 and then enter any of the following (shown in bold text):

• For crossfire-client-x11: cfclient
• For crossfire-client-gtk: gcfclient
• For crossfire-client-gtk2: gcfclient2

(Minor Note: gcfclient stands for GTK CrossFire client)

Crossfire is available in all (K|X)Ubuntu distributions (warty, hoary, breezy, dapper, edgy, feisty, gutsy, hardy, ibex, jaunty, karmic, lucid and maverick) and found in the universe section; the exceptions being that the crossfire-client-gtk2 client is only available for the edgy, feisty, hardy, ibex, jaunty, karmic, lucid and maverick distribution and the no longer maintained crossfire-maps-small (aka small world which stopped being maintained at v1.5.0) package is only available for the dapper, hardy, jaunty, karmic, lucid and maverick releases. The original two clients, crossfire-client-x11 and crossfire-client-gtk, are only available up to the lucid release.

The easiest way to install Crossfire on Ubuntu is to use the (K|X)Ubuntu package system and repository. The version there may lag somewhat behind the latest release, but it will be tested for (K|X)Ubuntu and automatically install any needed dependencies. (To stay current with the latest development version, see the Crossfire SVN page.)

You’ll need to or should use the GTK2 client in order to play Crossfire.

$ sudo apt-get install crossfire-client-gtk2

The following steps summarize how to install Crossfire packages through the GUI (Synaptic Package Manager.) The instructions are based of an installation of Feisty Fawn, the actual steps may vary for earlier releases or distributions of Ubuntu.

If necessary, to enable access to the Universe section OR confirm that you have access to the Universe section, perform the following steps:

1. Click on System → Administration → Synaptic Package Manager
2. Within Synaptic Package Manager, click on Settings → Repositories and a new popup window should appear
3. Place a check, or make sure there is a check, in front of Community maintained Open Source software (universe)
4. Click on the Close button (lower right of the popup window)
5. If necessary, click on the Close button to the Repositories Changed window
6. Click on Update to download or update the new software package list
7. Click on the Search button and a new popup window will appear
8. For the search term, use crossfire and click on Search
9. Select which component(s) you wish to install; at a minimum you'll need at least one of the clients
10. Follow the prompts and confirmation steps (check box next to the package name, confirm the installation) and click on Apply
11. Wait for the files to download and install

• IMPORTANT Note:
  • Double key output bug in the gtk-v2 client was resolved in the 1.12.0 release. See also the bug report at LaunchPad, https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/crossfire-client/+bug/87194

To launch the client, hit alt+f2 and then enter any of the following (shown in bold text):

• For crossfire-client-gtk2: gcfclient2

(Minor Note: gcfclient stands for GTK CrossFire client)

Crossfire is available in Fedora 8, Fedora 9 & Fedora 10 projects.

The easiest way to install Crossfire on Fedora is to use the Fedora Package Collection. The version there may lag somewhat behind the latest release, but it will be tested for Fedora and automatically install any needed dependencies. (To stay current with the latest development version, see the Crossfire SVN page and the crossfire client compile guide.)

Installation of the client has a similar syntax.

$ yum install crossfire-client

To launch the client run / or alt-F2 crossfire-client-gtk2

or select crossfire from your gnome or KDE menu for the gtk1 client

(Minor Note: gcfclient stands for GTK CrossFire client)

- Add or update with a GUI install HOWTO for Fedora

• The qemu page contains information on how to use qemu to build and test/run crossfire on a virtual host.
• The example is based on a Mandriva OS from the Free OS Zoo.

- more information for the following “short list” of other Linux distros

• Slackware
• Mandriva
• SuSE
• Gentoo