resolution of your current X server:

    xdpyinfo | grep -i dimen

X customization

    http://www.ee.ic.ac.uk/docs/software/unix/begin/intro/x/custom.html
    (downloaded to $HOME/html/x_customization.html)

To run a program on server with bare X server installed, without window manager.

    export DISPLAY=:0
    X & sleep 1; graphicalProgram

Simple X with window manager but without *dm (pekwm used as example wm):
    export DISPLAY=:0
    X & pekwm

Lightweight, modern window managers
    Ratpoison and blackbox look good for brutally minimalistic.
    dwm bit bad avialability.  Last updated in 2011.
    pekwm.  Says lightweight and simple.  Updated 2013.
        If have no term client, install xterm rpm so Terminal menu item will work.
        Can install rxvt rpm too.