My Matrox G400 outputs to TV beautifully. However, once I start mplayer the monitor (which is on head 1) cuts out and the TV output (on head 2) is activated instead. I assume this is normal and that most people are OK with this arrangement.

However, this machine will primarily be a Freevo box, and I'd still like head 1 to have a console or X so I can still use it as a desktop computer. Freevo will spend the vast majority of the time doing nothing, just waiting for user input or the next recording to start, so I'm not worried about performance really.

Someone who works on DirectFB (Denis Oliver Kropp) talked about this in an interview, so I know it can be done:
So that's precisely what I want, though as of yet I can't find anything on the subject (or I'm using the wrong search terms). Freevo and mplayer would use dfbmga and output to the second head. Can I run a window manager (like Dropline Gnome, my favorite) through head 1?

Thanks for any help!

I've done this, it was by compiling the matrox framebuffer into the kernel instead of vesa, I ended up with 2 identical virtual terms. kernel boot and all, and could have X start on one and output to the fb on the other. As I remember it, there was little to it other then a recompile. This was of course on a 2 head VGA system, but the idea is the same I assume. The mga framebuffer takes a different boot option or you get the black screen of no fun. They're in the Documentation section in the kernel source.

Cheers,

Finegan

I've made some progress. I installed XDirectFB (I can post some links to instructions I followed when I get back to work tomorrow) and I was able to simultaneously have X running (using my favorite window manager Dropline Gnome) and output to the TV with mplayer.

However, playback was slow on the TV and I couldn't get the mouse to work in X. I'm still hunting around for resources and seeing if any random tweaks I make will improve the situation, but if ANYONE has insight on this matter, help me out please!

Thanks.

Just checking, are you using the matrox specific mplayer kernel driver? mga_vid.o, it'll be in the Mplayer source directory in a subdir called drivers, then you can use the -vo mga option...

Cheers,

Finegan

It's installed and I can use -vo mga, but I don't understand what that does for me. It just plays on the first head with or without X.