I have read the tutorials that the other posts on this subject have posted, but I find that they don't make sense. How the heck do I enable Xinerama? What is the proper XF86Config Config?

You obviously haven't read the other posts because most of them make plenty of sense. You should also learn to use keywords in your search.

Search for "dual monitors" and "xinerama"

You will easily find the proper lines to add, where to add them, and how to configure dual monitors for X.

JS

now I got xinerama running (using the built-in graphical way), but both screens are just black, could someone please tell me what I did wrong?

Dude.. you gotta learn how to help yourself before we can help you.

Post your xorg.conf file here so we can read it.

oh, and post your /etc/shadow file too

doesnt the shadow file hold passwrds on linux ?

yes.. It does. that was a joke.

But the other file, paste it.

Here it is:

# File generated by XFdrake.

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
#FontPath "unix/:7100"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
#if something goes wrong with above fall back on these:
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse doesn't work
#DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "Keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "cz_qwerty"
Option "XkbCompat" ""
Option "XkbOptions" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Plug'n Play"
ModelName "Dell E770s"
HorizSync 30-70
VertRefresh 50-160

# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor2"

# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
Driver "mga"
Screen 0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device2"
VendorName "Matrox"
BoardName "Matrox Mystique"
Driver "mga"
Screen 0
BusID "PCI:2:10:0"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 16

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen2"
Device "device2"
Monitor "monitor2"
DefaultColorDepth 16

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
Screen "screen1"
Screen "screen2" RightOf "screen1"
Option "Xinerama"
EndSection



Notice that this configuration just gives me a blank screen on screen 1 and nothing on screen 2...thanks in advance!

okay, are you sure you're using this config file for X?

You need to make that file xorg.conf and put it in /etc/X11/ directory.

Make sure you back up the current one.

The only thing I see in the conf file you posted that is strange is that there's a 15 bit depth, which I've never heard of.


This is an old one I used when I had two monitors... You will have to edit the video card stuff though. Also, the new X uses xorg.conf , not XF86Config. Anywho, make sure you're USING this file. I know there's a way to use a specified xorg.conf with the X command. Read up on that. I'm sure there's plenty on this site to teach you. Please post what else you get working. We'll help you out from there.

#######################################
##SirSlappy's Two Monitor XF86Config file.###
#######################################

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
Screen 1 "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
Option "xinerama" "on"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "record"
Load "extmod"
Load "dbe"
Load "dri"
Load "xtrap"
Load "glx"
Load "type1"
Load "speedo"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
#DisplaySize 370 270 # mm
Identifier "Monitor1"
VendorName "DEL"
ModelName "DELL P991"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "DigitalVibrance" # <i>
#Option "NoFlip" # [<bool>]
#Option "Dac8Bit" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoLogo" # [<bool>]
#Option "UBB" # [<bool>]
#Option "Stereo" # <i>
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "HWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "VideoKey" # <i>
#Option "NvAGP" # <i>
#Option "IgnoreEDID" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoDDC" # [<bool>]
#Option "ConnectedMonitor" # <str>
#Option "ConnectedMonitors" # <str>
#Option "TVStandard" # <str>
#Option "TVOutFormat" # <str>
#Option "RenderAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "CursorShadow" # [<bool>]
#Option "CursorShadowAlpha" # <i>
#Option "CursorShadowXOffset" # <i>
#Option "CursorShadowYOffset" # <i>
#Option "UseEdidFreqs" # [<bool>]
#Option "FlatPanelProperties" # <str>
#Option "TwinView" # [<bool>]
#Option "TwinViewOrientation" # <str>
#Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" # <str>
#Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" # <str>
#Option "MetaModes" # <str>
#Option "UseInt10Module" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoTwinViewXineramaInfo" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoRenderExtension" # [<bool>]
#Option "Overlay" # [<bool>]
#Option "CIOverlay" # [<bool>]
#Option "ForceEmulatedOverlay" # [<bool>]
#Option "TransparentIndex" # <i>
#Option "OverlayDefaultVisual" # [<bool>]
#Option "NvEmulate" # <i>
#Option "NoBandWidthTest" # [<bool>]
#Option "CustomEDID-CRT-0" # <str>
#Option "CustomEDID-CRT-1" # <str>
#Option "CustomEDID-DFP-0" # <str>
#Option "CustomEDID-DFP-1" # <str>
#Option "CustomEDID-TV-0" # <str>
#Option "CustomEDID-TV-1" # <str>
#Option "TVOverScan" # <f>
#Option "IgnoreDisplayDevices" # <str>
#Option "MultisampleCompatibility" # [<bool>]
#Option "RegistryDwords" # <str>
#Option "NoPowerConnectorCheck" # [<bool>]
#Option "AllowDFPStereo" # [<bool>]
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "NV20 [GeForce3 Ti 200]"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "NoAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "Dac6Bit" # [<bool>]
#Option "Dac8Bit" # [<bool>]
#Option "ForcePCIMode" # [<bool>]
#Option "CPPIOMode" # [<bool>]
#Option "CPusecTimeout" # <i>
#Option "AGPMode" # <i>
#Option "AGPFastWrite" # [<bool>]
#Option "AGPSize" # <i>
#Option "RingSize" # <i>
#Option "BufferSize" # <i>
#Option "EnableDepthMoves" # [<bool>]
#Option "EnablePageFlip" # [<bool>]
#Option "NoBackBuffer" # [<bool>]
#Option "PanelOff" # [<bool>]
#Option "DDCMode" # [<bool>]
#Option "CloneDisplay" # <i>
#Option "CloneMode" # [<str>]
#Option "CloneHSync" # [<str>]
#Option "CloneVRefresh" # [<str>]
#Option "UseFBDev" # [<bool>]
#Option "VideoKey" # <i>
Identifier "Card1"
Driver "ati"
VendorName "ATI Technologies Inc"
BoardName "Radeon RV100 QY [Radeon 7000/VE]"
BusID "PCI:0:6:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen1"
Device "Card1"
Monitor "Monitor1"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
###############EOF################

I'me exetremely close, I can get a prompt on one monitor, and when I start X, it swiches over to the other monitor and displayes X, my X file is as follows:
Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
#FontPath "unix/:7100"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
#if something goes wrong with above fall back on these:
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse doesn't work
#DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "Keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "cz_qwerty"
Option "XkbCompat" ""
Option "XkbOptions" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Plug'n Play"
ModelName "Dell E770s"
HorizSync 30-70
VertRefresh 50-160

# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor2"

# Sony Vaio C1(X,XS,VE,VN)?
# 1024x480 @ 85.6 Hz, 48 kHz hsync
ModeLine "1024x480" 65.00 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 488 494 563 -hsync -vsync

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
Driver "mga"
Screen 0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device2"
VendorName "Matrox"
BoardName "Matrox Mystique"
Driver "mga"
Screen 0
BusID "PCI:2:10:0"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA GENERIC"
VendorName "NVIDIA"
BoardName "Nvidia Geforce"
Driver "NVIDIA geforce"
Screen 2
BusID "PCI:0:0:1"
Option "DPMS"

EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 16

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen2"
Device "device2"
Monitor "monitor2"
DefaultColorDepth 16

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1024 768

EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1024 768
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
Screen "screen1"
Screen "screen2" RightOf "screen1"
Option "Xinerama"
EndSection

well i started a mission to rid myself of M$ about 3 weeks ago, and ive been jumpin distros since, started with red hat 9 , then mandrake 10.1 and now fedora core 2

and i must admit i only managed to get dual monitors working on red hat and fc 2, apart from that i h8 how mandrakes forums cost money,

well i maybe a newb but im starting to get the feel for quality as far as distros go.

i believe i will check/try out all the major distros out there, but for now fc 2 is winning

<flamebait>mandrake is great!!!</flamebait>, now, that didn't help at all, so I will also accuse you of freeposting

ps please excuse the bump

pps Please excuse how annoying this post is

Well for n00bs, of course you think FC2 is great. It's easy. It sets up everything for you INITIALLY. However, Slackware is my choice and I'd say I am more than proficient with linux.

It's harder to install and get going, but it's MUCH lighter, faster, and customizale than the other distros IMHO.

well i must admit i envy (in a good way) any1 who has half a brain and has been using linux for at least 1year.

and im glad i finally made the transition and it appears i couldnt have picked a better time - 3 desktops posts are popping up all over the place (theres 1 in rage3d).

apparently M$ is planning this for 2007

LINUX is the best thing thats happened to me, computer wise since i got my commodore 64.

and at this point id like to thank the more experienced users out there that help newbs and big thumbs up for those of u involved in open projects (1 day hope to be able to contribute as well)

bit of topic but we kind of got onto subject

THIS IS OFF TOPIC, PLZ ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!

im not sure what u want to do but to me it looks like u dont have ure server layout configured, there a website dedicated to this somewhere, but perhaps u can get some1 to telnet into ure system

and u might have too many display configurations

me newb so i hope i have helped ...somewhat