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Please check my xorg.conf for ATI big-desktop dual monitors

I've been struggling with my dual monitor setup in Mandriva 2008.0 for 2 solid days now and a lot of coffee support :cry:
I followed the advice on various posts from several linux websites and so far I got big-desktop to work and I can drag windows between them which is good, but with the following problems:

I only have 2 resolution options in ATI Catalyst Control Center: 2560x1024 and 1024x480. Currently I have it set on 2560x1024 but the monitors dont support a high refresh rate at this resolution so they have a lot of flicker at 60Hz. The 1024x480 resolutionis way too low for practical use. The monitors are both AOpen 17" with 1024x768@85Hz as my preferred resolution. My card is an ATI Radeon 9600.

When I run fglrxinfo I get the following:

Code:

[johan@localhost ~]$ fglrxinfo

display: :0.0  screen: 0

OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www . mesa3d . org

OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect

OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1 Mesa 7.0.1)

The xorg.conf file is as follows:

Code:

# File generated by XFdrake (rev 230776)

# **********************************************************************

# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of

# this file.

# **********************************************************************



Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier    "layout1"

        Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0

        InputDevice    "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

        InputDevice    "Mouse1" "CorePointer"

        InputDevice    "Mouse2" "SendCoreEvents"

EndSection



Section "Files"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load  "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension

        Load  "v4l" # Video for Linux

        Load  "extmod"

        Load  "type1"

        Load  "freetype"

        Load  "glx" # 3D layer

        Load  "dri" # direct rendering

EndSection



Section "ServerFlags"



    #DontZap # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)

    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)

 # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work

        Option            "allowmouseopenfail"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier  "Keyboard1"

        Driver      "kbd"

        Option            "XkbModel" "pc105"

        Option            "XkbLayout" "us(alt-intl)"

        Option            "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier  "Mouse1"

        Driver      "mouse"

        Option            "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"

        Option            "Device" "/dev/mouse"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier  "Mouse2"

        Driver      "evdev"

        Option            "bustype" "0x0003"

        Option            "product" "0x0039"

        Option            "relBits" "+0+1+2"

        Option            "HWheelRelativeAxisButtons" "7 6"

        Option            "vendor" "0x0458"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"



    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.

    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync

        Identifier  "monitor1"

        VendorName  "Plug'n Play"

        ModelName    "VM7V"

        HorizSync    30.0 - 72.0

        VertRefresh  50.0 - 160.0

        ModeLine    "768x576" 50.0 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

        ModeLine    "768x576" 63.1 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"

        Option            "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"

        Option            "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"

        Option            "DPMS" "true"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Monitor[1]"

        Option            "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"

        Option            "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"

        Option            "DPMS" "true"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier  "device1"

        Driver      "fglrx"

        VendorName  "ATI Technologies Inc"

        BoardName  "ATI Radeon 9500 - X850"

        Option            "DPMS"

        Option            "XaaNoOffscreenPixmaps" "1"

        Option            "DesktopSetup" "horizontal"

        Option            "Mode2" "1024x768" #Resolution for second monitor

        Option            "HSync2" "65"

        Option            "VRefresh2" "60"

        Option            "OverlayOnCRTC2" "1"

        Option            "Capabilities" "0x00000800"

        Option            "PairModes" "0x0+0x0"

        Option            "EnableMonitor" "crt1,crt2"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]"

        Driver      "fglrx"

        Option            "ATIFGLEXTENSION" "Keyboard1"

        BusID      "PCI:1:0:0"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[1]"

        Driver      "fglrx"

        Option            "HSync2" "65"

        Option            "VRefresh2" "60"

        BusID      "PCI:1:0:0"

        Screen      1

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "screen1"

        Device    "device1"

        Monitor    "monitor1"

        DefaultDepth    16

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    8

                Modes    "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    15

                Modes    "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    16

                Modes    "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    24

                Modes    "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"

        Device    "aticonfig-Device[0]"

        Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Viewport  0 0

                Depth    24

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[1]"

        Device    "aticonfig-Device[1]"

        Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[1]"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Viewport  0 0

                Depth    24

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Extensions"

        Option            "Composite"

EndSection

I tried several options to get the resolution/refresh rate issue sorted but no luck so far. Any help would be really appreciated!

Johan

When mesa shows up like that it means fglrx is not loaded.

fglrx will not load if something else is linked to agpgart.

For fglrx to work drm cannot be loaded as a module. Do a lsmod and see if you have agpgart and if drm is linked to it. If drm is there, exit out of X and become su. Then rmmod drm. Then try to modprobe fglrx. If this works, change the name of drm in the relevant /lib/mod... area so it doesn't reload.

If drm is there but not a module then you may need to compile your own kernel without drm support. If you do this, under the graphics section, choose /dev/agpgart as a module and have nothing else selected. You do not want DRM for fglrx.

I am not sure if load "dri" is needed in xorg.conf. I tried with it and then with it commented out and saw no difference in X.

Note that I am not an expert on any of this but I got fglrx working and verified opengl works and if I remember right I got the drm advice from reading around on the ATI forum or in some of the faqs or howtos in the catalyst 4 package. Good luck.

I had it with fglrx loaded before and I couldn't get the big-desktop setup to work. I got to the current settings by accident and it worked best so far of all I've tried. Actually I'm not sure where to go from here to get fglrx running as I've done so many things up to now.

I'll look into the dri suggestions, although I'm kind of new to this so will have to google on those commands. If you can give me more details on where and how to do lsmod, rmmod and modprobe that will help! I'm comfortable with the console but don't know too much about the various commands and syntax.

Thanks so far!

If you don't need 3D, and if you are using kde, have you tried simply right clicking on a clean screen, choosing "configure desktop" and select "display". This allows you to set screen size and has a tab for multiple monitors.

I did try that but the moment the configuration screen opens, my displays goes to a VERY low resolution so that I can only see one corner of the open window. My mouse pointer also seem to be stuck in one corner of the screen so I can't change the resolution to anything else from there. Is there any way to correct this maybe from a console so that I can try that configuration?

Note that I needed to edit my reply above regarding dri. I'll try and remember how I altered screen size. Have you already tried ctrl+alt+ (- or + from numberpad)?

I tried it while the desktop config window is open but nothing happens :(
It does work normally though.

When I had the screen too large to use I ended up going back to a version of xorg.conf that worked. I did not figure a way to choose a better resolution. Based on the work you have done you should create a copy of your current xorg.conf file in your home area to ensure you don't lose it if you change back to earlier version or create new one with xorgconfig.

Are you sure about your monitor values? I couldn't find vm7v at aopen during very brief review.
You have:
HorizSync 30.0 - 72.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0

If you are not sure, maybe double check with specs in your manual.
If you can't find numbers maybe change to:

HorizSync 32.0 - 82.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 76.0

These are my guess based on looking at a couple of other aopen/acer/asus 17" monitors but they could be wrong.

In your Section "ServerLayout" you have "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Later on in the xorg you also have a Screen[0] and Screen[1].
What calls aticonfig-Screen[1]?

In this same section you have
InputDevice "Mouse2" "SendCoreEvents"
For my own knowledge, what is this meant to do?

You have:
Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "ATIFGLEXTENSION" "Keyboard1"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

I only have two lines, "ati..." and "fglrx". What do other two lines do?

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[1]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "HSync2" "65"
Option "VRefresh2" "60"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

I don't know much about this either but it seems if using two monitors in one big display the outputs would need to be the same, right? Same resolution and refresh rates. If this is wrong please let me know so I can get a little smarter.

Consider providing the output from typing, dmesg | grep agp , in a terminal.
Likewise for lsmod | grep agp , need to be root for this one.

Also provide xorg.0.log in /var/log or wherever mandriva puts it showing the lines beginning with (EE).

I did create backups of my xorg.conf file while struggling to get this working. I had to go back to the backups several times after ruinning things beyond all hope :S

I'm not sure about the monitor values at all as I can't find the manuals or info on the net about them. I just guesstimated the values from what others were using... I changed the values to what you suggested.

Quote:

In your Section "ServerLayout" you have "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Later on in the xorg you also have a Screen[0] and Screen[1].
What calls aticonfig-Screen[1]?

In this same section you have
InputDevice "Mouse2" "SendCoreEvents"
For my own knowledge, what is this meant to do?

You have:
Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "ATIFGLEXTENSION" "Keyboard1"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

I have no idea what they're supposed to do :scratch:
I just know enough to get me into trouble but I'm learning... I'm soaking up all Linux info I can find so if you anyone can give me a link to a detailed explanation to the xorg.conf file so I can at least get to know this little sucker better that will help a lot :study:

Quote:

I don't know much about this either but it seems if using two monitors in one big display the outputs would need to be the same, right? Same resolution and refresh rates. If this is wrong please let me know so I can get a little smarter.

That makes sense to me as well. But I can't pick at that there are different resolution and refresh rates for the two different monitors. Or am I missing something obvious?

Quote:

Consider providing the output from typing, dmesg | grep agp , in a terminal.
Likewise for lsmod | grep agp , need to be root for this one.

Code:

[root@localhost johan]# dmesg | grep agp

Linux agpgart interface v0.102 (c) Dave Jones

agpgart: Detected VIA VT3314 chipset

agpgart: AGP aperture is 128M @ 0xf0000000



[root@localhost johan]# lsmod | grep agp

via_agp                8832  1

agpgart                27656  1 via_agp

Quote:

Also provide xorg.0.log in /var/log or wherever mandriva puts it showing the lines beginning with (EE).

Here's the errors and warnings found in the log file:

Code:

(II) Primary Device is: PCI 01:00:0

(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Version Identifier:8.47.3

(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Release Identifier: UNSUPPORTED-8.476                    

(II) ATI Proprietary Linux Driver Build Date: Mar 29 2008 00:05:22

(WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:1:0:1) found



drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0

drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)

drmOpenDevice: open result is -1, (No such device or address)

drmOpenDevice: Open failed

[drm] failed to load kernel module "fglrx"

(WW) fglrx(0): Failed to open DRM connection



(WW) fglrx(0): No DRM connection for driver fglrx.



(EE) fglrx(0): atiddxDriScreenInit failed, GPS not been initialized. 

(WW) fglrx(0): ***********************************************

(WW) fglrx(0): * DRI initialization failed!                  *

(WW) fglrx(0): * (maybe driver kernel module missing or bad) *

(WW) fglrx(0): * 2D acceleraton available (MMIO)            *

(WW) fglrx(0): * no 3D acceleration available                *

(WW) fglrx(0): ********************************************* *



(WW) fglrx(0): Option "ATIFGLEXTENSION" is not used

(WW) fglrx(0): Option "VendorName" is not used

(WW) fglrx(0): Option "ModelName" is not used



(EE) AIGLX: Screen 0 is not DRI capable



(EE) Mouse2-usb-0000:00:10.1-2/input0: AbsoluteTouch: 'DIGI_Touch' does not exist.

I'm also adding the complete log file in case there's something useful. I went through it and found some interesting reading (wannabe geek suspense novel) so here it is:

Xorg.0.log

Thanks for the help so far. Until I learn enough to help myself and others I need all the help I can get!

Johan

Looks like you have motherboard with IGP. Which motherboard do you have?

How are the monitors hooked up? Both to ATI 9600 (VGA + DVI)? Or one to 9600 and one to motherboard (IGP)?

I would imagine (but could be wrong) that the 9600 is so much faster than the VIA IGP (P4M800?) that you want them both hooked to the 9600 video card.

If they are hooked one each on the video card and motherboard (IGP) I do not know how you configure the system or the xorg.conf file. If you are hooked up this way and figure it out, please post the solution.

Assuming you have them both hooked up to the 9600 you probably need to remove the via_agp module.

Try the following: in a terminal, become su, type: rmmod via_agp or rmmod -f via_agp
- If that doesn't work you'll have to figure how to login to a terminal mode vs a Xwindow. I think in Mandriva you do that from the options in the login area.

Once via_agp module is removed, Rerun the ATI Catalyst .run file and let it change the xorg.conf file. Then log into X or ctrl+alt+backspace to get out then relog in.

If this works, either add via_agp.ko (ko or gz or maybe just o) to the blacklist area in /etc/modprobe.conf, /etc/modules.conf, or in the /etc/modprobe.d/ area. Or, simply rename (mv) the via_agp.ko file in the /lib/mod*/ area to a different name such as 11via_agp.

For me this is at: /lib/modules/2.6.24.5-smp/kernel/drivers/char/agp

Have fun.

The motherboard is an Asrock 775VM800.

I do have both monitors on the Radeon card and nothing on the IGP.

I removed the via_agp module and ran the ATI .run file again from terminal mode.
I don't see any difference in my desktop and all the problems are still the same...

The ATI installer said that there were some errors during install - here's the contents of the fglrx-install.log file:

Code:

[Message] Kernel Module : Trying to install a precompiled kernel module.

[Message] Kernel Module : Precompiled kernel module version mismatched.

[Message] Kernel Module : Found kernel module build environment, generating kernel module now.

ATI module generator V 2.0

==========================

initializing...

Error:

kernel includes at /lib/modules/2.6.22.9-desktop-1mdv/build/include do not match current kernel.

they are versioned as ""

instead of "2.6.22.9-desktop-1mdv".

you might need to adjust your symlinks:

- /usr/include

- /usr/src/linux

[Error] Kernel Module : Failed to compile kernel module - please consult readme.

(When I downloaded and installed the kernel module I made sure that it's the same version than my kernel. Not sure if that is what the log file is referring to here.)

You seem to have a lot of patience :cool:

I just hooked up a 2nd monitor to my system so that one is HDMI and one is VGA. Then in X I used the catalyst control center and was able to select the big desktop and restart windows. I did not need to make any changes to the xorg.conf. Here is a copy of much of my xorg.conf file that seems relevant. Note that I added back "load "dri"" and have not yet removed it.

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier    "Simple Layout"

        Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0

        InputDevice    "Mouse1" "CorePointer"

        InputDevice    "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load  "dbe"          # Double buffer extension

        SubSection "extmod"

                Option            "omit xfree86-dga"  # don't initialise the DGA extension

        EndSubSection

        Load  "type1"

        Load  "freetype"

        Load  "glx"

        Load  "dri"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier  "Keyboard1"

        Driver      "kbd"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier  "Mouse1"

        Driver      "mouse"

        Option            "Protocol" "Auto"

        Option            "Device" "/dev/mouse"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier  "My Monitor"

        HorizSync    31.5 - 50.0

        VertRefresh  40.0 - 90.0

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"

        Option            "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"

        Option            "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"

        Option            "DPMS" "true"

EndSection



Section "Device"

    #VideoRam    4096

    # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate

        Identifier  "VESA Framebuffer"

        Driver      "vesa"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]"

        Driver      "fglrx"

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "Screen 1"

        Device    "VESA Framebuffer"

        Monitor    "My Monitor"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    8

                Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    16

                Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    24

                Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    32

                Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"

        Device    "aticonfig-Device[0]"

        Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Viewport  0 0

                Depth    24

        EndSubSection

EndSection

I do not know if the other entries you have in your xorg.conf might enable it to work better.

Regarding my suggestion to rerun ati.run file, I did not know you had the modules already. When you rerun the ati.run installer I think it erases its previous occurrences so you probably only need to reinstall your modules (probably from the rpm).

The error you found is probably because the installer is looking for the kernel sources. There is usually a symlink at /usr/src/linux that points to them. In some distributions the header files are located at usr/include/linux.

It will probably be easier for you at this point to reload your fglrx modules and then edit your xorg.conf by hand rather than down load the sources. If the fglrx control center is not part of the package you have should download it also in order to get the big desktop or clone.

As a side note, I also tried running X without the agpgart module and it seemed to work OK. ATI, somewhere on the web, states their fglrx drivers will use it if available but also either have their own or do not really need it. I did not run it long enough to see if there were any issues with many programs.

I'm not sure what to do to reload the fglrx modules. At this stage I've confused myself so much with the different drivers and modules and settings that I'm almost scared to start changing things again and lose whatever I have that's working with regards to big desktop.

If you could point me in the direction of what specifically to do to reload the fglrx modules I can take it from there. Thanks!

I'm still assuming you no longer have the fglrx module. To check for it, make sure that the via_agp module is not loaded and then modprobe fglrx. Are there any errors. If not, do a lsmod | grep fglrx and see if it shows up and if it shows up linked with agpgart.

If it's not there and you want fglrx you either need to run the ati .run installer or try and get modules for fglrx for your distribution (mandriva I think). The ati installer needs the linux sources.

On the 2008 mandriva dvd these appear to be located at dvd/i586/media/main and might be called kernel-source-2.6.22.9-1mdv-1-1mdv2008.0.i586.rpm. You could also try to find kernel source at mandriva website. After install make a symlink at /usr/src/linux pointing to the newly installed source. With this installed you could try running the ati.run installer again as root from a terminal login. Based on stories in links below you may need to delete previous occurrences of catalyst control center and fglrx.

Or, leave the kernel stuff alone and try to install packaged module for fglrx.

Something like these MAY be helpful:
http://club.mandriva.com/xwiki/bin/v...control-center
http://club.mandriva.com/xwiki/bin/v...9-desktop-1mdv
-if you go this route browse the rpm before installing to see what it might overwrite and to see if you have other versions located in other places (/var/lib instead of /lib or /usr/ati instead of /usr/fglrx or even at /usr/share/...)

You may have to search and see what other people have done as I haven't used mandriva much. One of many hits that may or may not be helpful is:
http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?t=75533

I hope you are able to get your big desktop working after all of this.
Have fun.

Thanks for all the trouble, but I solved the problem by rather using my nvidia card. It worked first time :) Only thing that is not right is when I maximise a window it goes across both screens :( Some more reading up to do. Except if you maybe know how to fix that one?