Keyboard setup Linux provides 2 ways to set up your keyboard. At the console you can use loadkeys and under XFree86 you can use xmodmap .
Different distributions handle it differentely.
To set your keyboard properly under XFree86 you've got more choices. This way it happens automagically. Some applications have to be compiled as 8-bit clean to work well with the European characterset. Others like to be told in advance. Since Europe had to invent a new character, the Euro, there's a new standard.