dual monitors with SuSE Linux 10.0

dazz williams · 05-12-2006, 04:07 AM

Hey all,
I recently installed Linux (SuSE 10.0) on my computer and so now my box is dual booted with WinXP and Linux. I have dual monitor capabilities whilst in Windows, but I'm having trouble getting it setup in Linux.
LEFT: Dell monitor, NVidia GeForce2 MX/MX 400
RIGHT: IBM P70, 3dfx Voodoo2
(Keep in mind that I'm a Linux n00b other than some UNIX programming (C, C++, Java) in University.)
I want the primary display on the LEFT with the desktop extended to the RIGHT. The closest I've gotten to this is by running Sax2 and it detected both cards and setup a dual monitor thing, but with LEFT as display 2 and RIGHT as display 1. I don't want the primary/display1 on the RIGHT side, but I don't know how to change it around. I tried booting in level 3 and manually editing my /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, but it didn't do anything. Also, when I booted up with how Sax2 wanted it (dual display, but LEFT was 2ndary and RIGHT was primary) the LEFT/2ndary display was there with a single desktop icon and the taskbar, but the mouse wasn't able to go over there and I couldn't make use of the 2nd display at all.
If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please let me know. Thanks!
dazz.
PS - currently I've gone back to a single display, on the LEFT.

ioerror · 05-12-2006, 09:53 AM

What does you xorg.conf look like and what changes did you make?

It sounds like you want this:

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier      "default"
        Screen          0  "screen0" 0 0
        Screen          1  "screen1" leftOf "screen0"
        ....
EndSection

You might want to enable Xinerama too.

dazz williams · 05-14-2006, 10:59 AM

I wasn't at home for the last day and a bit, but I am now so here's my /etc/X11/xorg.conf file contents:

Quote:

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2006-05-12T04:09:41-0400.
#
# Version: 7.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2002
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (7.1)
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#
Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/URW"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/kwintv"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/truetype"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/uni:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/xtest"
FontPath "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS0"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS1"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS2"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS3"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS4"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS5"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS6"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS7"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS8"
InputDevices "/dev/psaux"
InputDevices "/dev/logibm"
InputDevices "/dev/sunmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/atibm"
InputDevices "/dev/amigamouse"
InputDevices "/dev/atarimouse"
InputDevices "/dev/inportbm"
InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
InputDevices "/dev/mouse"
InputDevices "/dev/usbmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/adbmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
InputDevices "/dev/input/event0"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer0"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer1"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer2"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer3"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "type1"
Load "dbe"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
Load "extmod"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "kbd"
Identifier "Keyboard[0]"
Option "Protocol" "Standard"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "mouse"
Identifier "Mouse[1]"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Name" "ImPS/2 Logitech Wheel Mouse"
Option "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
Option "Vendor" "Sysp"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
DisplaySize 330 240
HorizSync 28-92
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "P70"
Option "DPMS"
VendorName "COMPAQ"
VertRefresh 48-150
UseModes "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
DisplaySize 300 230
HorizSync 28-85
Identifier "Monitor[1]"
ModelName "M781PM781MM"
VendorName "DELL"
VertRefresh 50-160
UseModes "Modes[1]"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1152x864" 140.45 1152 1232 1360 1568 864 865 868 914
Modeline "1152x864" 125.43 1152 1232 1360 1568 864 865 868 909
Modeline "1152x864" 109.43 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 904
Modeline "1152x864" 93.90 1152 1224 1344 1536 864 865 868 899
Modeline "1152x864" 78.82 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 894
Modeline "1024x768" 122.97 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 818
Modeline "1024x768" 110.91 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 813
Modeline "1024x768" 97.84 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 808
Modeline "1024x768" 86.18 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 803
Modeline "1024x768" 73.89 1024 1080 1192 1360 768 769 772 799
Modeline "1024x768" 61.89 1024 1080 1184 1344 768 769 772 794
Modeline "800x600" 97.59 800 856 944 1088 600 601 604 650
Modeline "800x600" 90.10 800 856 944 1088 600 601 604 647
Modeline "800x600" 82.55 800 856 944 1088 600 601 604 643
Modeline "800x600" 73.98 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 639
Modeline "800x600" 66.71 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 635
Modeline "800x600" 58.73 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 632
Modeline "800x600" 51.73 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 628
Modeline "800x600" 44.13 800 840 920 1040 600 601 604 624
Modeline "800x600" 36.88 800 832 912 1024 600 601 604 621
Modeline "768x576" 89.56 768 824 904 1040 576 577 580 624
Modeline "768x576" 82.67 768 824 904 1040 576 577 580 621
Modeline "768x576" 75.72 768 824 904 1040 576 577 580 617
Modeline "1280x1024" 145.69 1280 1376 1512 1744 1024 1025 1028 1071
Modeline "768x576" 67.79 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 613
Modeline "768x576" 61.21 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 610
Modeline "768x576" 53.75 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 606
Modeline "768x576" 47.41 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 603
Modeline "768x576" 40.41 768 800 880 992 576 577 580 599
Modeline "768x576" 33.74 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 596
Modeline "640x480" 62.12 640 680 752 864 480 481 484 521
Modeline "640x480" 57.18 640 680 752 864 480 481 484 517
Modeline "640x480" 55.00 640 672 732 864 480 488 494 530
Modeline "640x480" 51.43 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 514
Modeline "640x480" 46.80 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 511
Modeline "640x480" 42.22 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 508
Modeline "640x480" 36.97 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 505
Modeline "640x480" 32.64 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 503
Modeline "640x480" 27.74 640 664 728 816 480 481 484 500
Modeline "640x480" 23.06 640 656 720 800 480 481 484 497
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[1]"
Modeline "1280x1024" 145.69 1280 1376 1512 1744 1024 1025 1028 1071
Modeline "1280x1024" 125.14 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1065
Modeline "1280x1024" 105.15 1280 1360 1496 1712 1024 1025 1028 1059
Modeline "1280x960" 135.32 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1004
Modeline "1280x960" 116.18 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 998
Modeline "1280x960" 97.68 1280 1352 1488 1696 960 961 964 993
Modeline "1280x800" 144.76 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 847
Modeline "1280x800" 128.04 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 842
Modeline "1280x800" 111.77 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 837
Modeline "1280x800" 95.95 1280 1352 1488 1696 800 801 804 832
Modeline "1280x800" 80.58 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 827
Modeline "1152x864" 125.43 1152 1232 1360 1568 864 865 868 909
Modeline "1152x864" 109.43 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 904
Modeline "1152x864" 93.90 1152 1224 1344 1536 864 865 868 899
Modeline "1152x864" 78.82 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 894
Modeline "1280x768" 137.68 1280 1368 1504 1728 768 769 772 813
Modeline "1280x768" 122.87 1280 1368 1504 1728 768 769 772 808
Modeline "1280x768" 107.23 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 803
Modeline "1280x768" 92.15 1280 1352 1488 1696 768 769 772 799
Modeline "1280x768" 77.37 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 794
Modeline "1024x768" 110.91 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 813
Modeline "1024x768" 97.84 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 808
Modeline "1024x768" 86.18 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 803
Modeline "1024x768" 73.89 1024 1080 1192 1360 768 769 772 799
Modeline "1024x768" 61.89 1024 1080 1184 1344 768 769 772 794
Modeline "800x600" 90.10 800 856 944 1088 600 601 604 647
Modeline "800x600" 82.55 800 856 944 1088 600 601 604 643
Modeline "800x600" 73.98 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 639
Modeline "800x600" 66.71 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 635
Modeline "800x600" 58.73 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 632
Modeline "800x600" 51.73 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 628
Modeline "800x600" 44.13 800 840 920 1040 600 601 604 624
Modeline "800x600" 36.88 800 832 912 1024 600 601 604 621
Modeline "768x576" 82.67 768 824 904 1040 576 577 580 621
Modeline "768x576" 75.72 768 824 904 1040 576 577 580 617
Modeline "768x576" 67.79 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 613
Modeline "768x576" 61.21 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 610
Modeline "768x576" 53.75 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 606
Modeline "768x576" 47.41 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 603
Modeline "768x576" 40.41 768 800 880 992 576 577 580 599
Modeline "768x576" 33.74 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 596
Modeline "640x480" 62.12 640 680 752 864 480 481 484 521
Modeline "640x480" 57.18 640 680 752 864 480 481 484 517
Modeline "640x480" 51.43 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 514
Modeline "640x480" 46.80 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 511
Modeline "640x480" 42.22 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 508
Modeline "640x480" 36.97 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 505
Modeline "640x480" 32.64 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 503
Modeline "640x480" 27.74 640 664 728 816 480 481 484 500
Modeline "640x480" 23.06 640 656 720 800 480 481 484 497
EndSection

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[0]"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[1]"
Identifier "Screen[1]"
Monitor "Monitor[1]"
EndSection

Section "Device"
BoardName "Voodoo 3"
BusID "0:14:0"
Driver "tdfx"
Identifier "Device[0]"
VendorName "3Dfx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
BoardName "GeForce2 MX/MX 400"
BusID "1:0:0"
Driver "nv"
Identifier "Device[1]"
VendorName "NVidia"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout[all]"
InputDevice "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
Option "Clone" "off"
Option "Xinerama" "off"
Screen "Screen[1]"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group "video"
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
EndSection

Thanks for taking a look!
dazz.

ioerror · 05-14-2006, 11:25 AM

That looks pretty much OK, you just want to replace that Screen "Screen[1]" with:

Code:

Screen 0 "Screen[1]"
Screen 1 "Screen[0]" rightOf "Screen[1]"

in your ServerLayout.

dazz williams · 05-14-2006, 11:18 PM

Thanks! Would I also need to change the [Option "Xinerama" "off"] to "on"?
dazz.

dazz williams · 05-15-2006, 01:10 AM

So I edited the file like you suggested (from level 3) then went into full GUI/level 5 and the 2nd monitor sounded like it went active like it should've, but it didn't display anything. Changing the resolution and/or refresh rate of it didn't work because Configure Desktop wouldn't save the screen's changes.
So I rebooted into level 3 (for some reason I can't init 3 from a terminal or press CTRL-ALT-F3 anymore because it just goes to a blank screen, which I can then CTRL-ALT-F7 out of) and ran sax2 as root, switched the order of the screens and it's dual monitoring fine now. I have the dual mode as "traditional" so, although I can't drag windows between screens, each screen has its own desktop and task bar so it doesn't really matter if Linux thinks that the wrong one is "primary".
Thanks for the help.

Twas educational for a new Linux user.
dazz.

PS - my current xorg.conf file looks like the following (an snippet of it at least)

Quote:

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[0]"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[1]"
Identifier "Screen[1]"
Monitor "Monitor[1]"
EndSection

Section "Device"
BoardName "Voodoo 3"
BusID "0:14:0"
Driver "tdfx"
Identifier "Device[0]"
Option "usevnc" "no"
VendorName "3Dfx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
BoardName "GeForce2 MX/MX 400"
BusID "1:0:0"
Driver "nv"
Identifier "Device[1]"
VendorName "NVidia"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout[all]"
InputDevice "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
Option "Clone" "off"
Option "Xinerama" "off"
Screen "Screen[0]"
Screen "Screen[1]" LeftOf "Screen[0]"

ioerror · 05-15-2006, 04:46 AM

Yes, the default mode with dual-head is to use separate screens. If you turn Xinerama on, then they will be merged into a single logical screen, if that's what you prefer, though that will bring back your primary/secondary dilemma. I don't know why it didn't work the other way around. ?

As for not being able to switch to the console, that sounds like a problem with the gfx card driver(s). I have the same problem with a matrox card. If I boot using a text mode, it's fine, but if I use a framebuffer, when I exit X (or ctrl-alt-fn), the screen remains blank. It seems the driver doesn't correctly reset the terminal mode, for some reason.