work xorg and home xorg

robrecc · 02-20-2007, 11:26 AM

I have a laptop i use at work that I have xorg.conf setup to use both monitors. When I take the laptop home with me and i try to boot the screen just stays blank due to the xorg being totally wrong. I have tried to hit function f8 but the screen still stays blank. Is there anyway around this that I can switch from home-xorg.conf to work-xorg.conf. or is there a easier way

macemoneta · 02-20-2007, 12:33 PM

You can use a USB key. If the key is plugged in, then you are at work, if not you are at home. You can then check in your rc.local and copy the appropriate xorg, so that when X starts you have the correct display configuration.

Even better, you can have a configuration file on the key that you parse and set appropriate options. One key for each environment. Even the smallest capacity key would be fine - many places give these little keys away as freebies, or you can sometimes find them at the local dollar store.

robrecc · 02-20-2007, 01:10 PM

is there a easier way to get it done than that. I dont understand why i would need a usb key. what files would the usb key have on it. I basically saying I dont understand the answer that was provided

macemoneta · 02-20-2007, 01:23 PM

That's actually pretty trivial. What where you looking for? There's no existing/automatic method of switching xorf.conf files at boot.

robrecc · 02-20-2007, 01:29 PM

What about some sort of startup script. That detects my IP or ask me whether im at home or work then uses the xorg corresponding to what i answer

macemoneta · 02-20-2007, 01:39 PM

There are no pre-existing scripts that I'm aware of for your specific situation. They are not difficult to write, but usually folks just create something for themselves.

If you are using static IP addresses (or subnets), you can certainly use that to create a script (your rc.local) that will select the appropriate xorg.conf. It's only a few lines of code... what are the names of your two xorg.conf files, and what are the home/work IP addresses (first three dotted numbers)? I'll show you what you need to add to your /etc/rc.d/rc.local.

robrecc · 02-20-2007, 02:44 PM

well home ip would always be 192.168.1.110 and work ip would always be 192.168.15.12

the name at work is xorg.conf
what would i name my xorg.conf for my home

macemoneta · 02-20-2007, 03:02 PM

OK, let say you have a file called work-xorg.conf and one called home-xorg.conf, both kept in /etc/X11. In your /etc/rc.d/rc.local you'd have code like this:

Code:

IP=`/sbin/ifconfig eth0 | /bin/grep inet | /usr/bin/awk '{print $2}' | /usr/bin/awk -F: '{print $2}'`
OCTET=`echo "$IP" | /bin/awk -F. '{print $3}'`
if [ "$OCTET" == "15" ]
then
   # At work
   /bin/cp -f /etc/X11/work-xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf
else
   # At home
   /bin/cp -f /etc/X11/home-xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf
fi

redwing57 · 02-21-2007, 05:45 PM

I'm no linux guru, so I think simple. Couldn't you set up your machine to boot to a run level where X doesn't start? Then you could either switch the xorg.conf file, if you need to, or just startx if not. A simple script could be used to copy the appropriate xorg file to xorg.conf and then startx.

Rob

macemoneta · 02-21-2007, 05:59 PM

What you propose may sound simple, but is actually more complex. Your proposal:

1. One-time setup: Edit /etc/inittab and set the run level to 3.
2. When the machine boots, login as root.
3. Copy the appropriate xorg.conf to /etc/X11
4. Logoff
5. Login as user
6. Run startx to get a GUI
Repeat steps 2-6 at each boot.

My suggestion:

1. One-time setup: Copy the 10 lines in comment #8 to /etc/rc.d/rc.local
Done.

redwing57 · 02-21-2007, 09:09 PM

Good point.