Dual Monitors on 6600GT Mandriva/Gnome

willythec · 07-21-2006, 02:57 AM

I´m quite the Linux n00b but i´ve searched around the internet quite a bit for an answer to this question before asking here...
I´ve in the past run a dual monitor setup in Windows XP with my 6600GT running two analogue monitors. The idea is the desktop spans the two which are side by side and gives me double the space.
I can´t get this to run under Linux however.
As stated in the title I´m running Gnome under Mandriva.
I attach my xorg.conf in the hope that someone knows exactly what to do. I have discovered that it is possible my lack of BusID in the device section... this is not entered because I don´t know how to find out what my card´s bus ID is.
Thanks a lot in advance, William.

Code:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor0"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1024x768 @ 70 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-57.0
    VertRefresh 50-70
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1024x768 @ 70 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-57.0
    VertRefresh 50-70
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device0"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (generic)"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
    Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (generic)"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
    Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen0"
    Device "device0"
    Monitor "monitor0"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    
    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 "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    
    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 0 "screen0"
    Screen 1 "screen1" rightof "screen0"
EndSection

willythec · 07-21-2006, 06:15 PM

bump? surely someone has done this and perhaps it is one of the simpler configurations people are asking help for!

gloomy · 07-22-2006, 12:04 AM

Your xorg.conf looks pretty fine.

However, it is missing the section "server flags", which define whether or not the xinerama is enabled (note also that the comment rightof is in reality RightOf; I would also use the ´"UseEDID" "false"´ option under the device section and define manually the DPI in the same section). It might look for instance like this:

Code:

Section "ServerFlags"
        Option          "Clone"         "off"
        Option          "Xinerama"      "on"
EndSection

You might also want to examine the TwinView option provided by the (binary) nVidia driver, as it might be more appropriate (~ efficient) for a dual head setup.

Geminias · 07-22-2006, 12:49 AM

if both of your monitors are analogue go with twinview. I suggest you delete everything you have just done and revert to the original xorg.conf and add these lines under the section "device"

Code:

	Option	    "NoLogo" "false"
	Option	    "TwinView" "true"
	Option	    "MetaModes" "800x600,1280x1024"
	Option	    "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30.0 - 70.0"
	Option	    "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50.0 - 160.0"
	Option	    "TwinViewOrientation" "LeftOf"

Change the resolutions and orientation if they aren't set up correctly for your needs. For more information see here..

willythec · 07-22-2006, 01:13 AM

does this look like i´ve got it right? if so then there´s something wrong because it doesn´t work..

Code:

# 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/:-1"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    #DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not 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 "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/nvidia/libglx.so"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "keyboard"
    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"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1024x768 @ 70 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-57.0
    VertRefresh 50-70
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (generic)"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
    Option "NoLogo" "false"
    Option "TwinView" "true"
    Option "MetaModes" "1024x768,1024x768"
    Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30.0 - 70.0"
    Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50.0 - 160.0"
    Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
    Option "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT, CRT"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    
    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"
EndSection

gloomy · 07-22-2006, 02:50 AM

It is probably due to the ConnectedMonitor you pass for the nvidia driver. I recall from using tvinview years ago that it was not neccessary for a dual head
setup. And as I remember, it was ConnectedMonitor "CRT-0, CRT-1". And since 1.0-8756, you must use UseDisplayDevice instead of ConnectedMonitor. You might want to also pass the option Xinerama off with ServerFlags.

You should also load simply the module "glx" if you use nVidias binary drivers; no need to pass /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/nvidia/libglx.so. Use simply "Modes" instead of "Virtual". Use DefaultDepth instead of DefaultColorDepth (man xorg.conf does not even recognize such an option).

Geminias · 07-22-2006, 03:02 AM

Yes and when you have done all that it is possible you will see your monitors hang for a bit as linux loads and some squigly lines over one of your monitors - but fear not. If you leave it alone for a little longer than usual (about 25s) it should load up fine and everything should be in order.

willythec · 07-22-2006, 05:58 AM

I don´t think I quite get it... my latest attempt follows:

Code:

# 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/:-1"
EndSection

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

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

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "keyboard"
    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"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1024x768 @ 70 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-57.0
    VertRefresh 50-70
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (generic)"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
    Option "NoLogo" "false"
    Option "TwinView" "true"
    Option "MetaModes" "1024x768,1024x768"
    Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30.0 - 70.0"
    Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50.0 - 160.0"
    Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
    Option "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT-0, CRT-1"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultDepth 24
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes 1024 768
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes 1024 768
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes 1024 768
    EndSubsection
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes 1024 768
    EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout1"
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    Screen "screen1"
EndSection

Geminias · 07-22-2006, 07:57 AM

1. Why are you using ConnectedMonitor option at all? It is only to be used if your monitors are very old and don't have DDC.
2. "Explicitly specifying Xinerama in the X config file or on the X server commandline will prohibit NVIDIA's Xinerama extension from installing." (taken from the link i gave you) You should take out xinerama option altogether since the default is off.

Geminias · 07-22-2006, 08:05 AM

Also put ServerLayout at the top, take out Serverflags altogether (meaning highlight the whole section and delete it." Then for screen put the line exactly like this:

Code:

Screen    0  "Screen1" 0 0

and try: Identifier "Default Layout" in ServerLayout section.

Remember to keep a backup of a working config at all times so if it fails to launch x you can revert to the back up and try a different config.

Geminias · 07-22-2006, 08:10 AM

Also you didn't specify a mode for the direct rendering infrastructure. Add this section at the end.

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

willythec · 07-22-2006, 06:47 PM

Thanks so much for the help...
Only a couple of problems with it.
1. Windows maximize wrongly i.e. too far and the close button dissappears.
2. it´s a bit soft? some of the definition seems to have dissappeared, though that might just be an optical illusion.
Thanks again Geminias!

Geminias · 07-23-2006, 01:56 AM

your welcome. About the first part: I would say it has to do with which X server you run because I use FC5 with Gnome and I don't have that problem. (but it could also be the screen size you specified in the xorg.conf file. Read up on the specific size for your monitors and make sure its set correctly) If that doesnt work than go to nvidia's forum and ask them - they would be the most help i'd imagine.

2. If you think it lost some of its definition than take out all of the modes that specify lower than 24 depth. I only use 24 depth cause i have no reason to use a lower depth. (Also be sure to check what setting your display is on ie. millions of colors, thousands of colors, hundreds of colors.