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Help requested getting two Dell LCD monitors working with Debian Etch running KDE

Hi, I'm trying to get dual lcd monitors working with debian etch running kde. I'm trying to get a Dell 2407wfp and a 1707fp running together and able to configure the resolutions independently. I am not looking for cloning here. I'm not really sure what to call it, I would like to be able to drag a window to the other monitor. Or, hell, what are some other possibilities? Thank you very much,
Phoenix

What you need to do is edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

I am using Debian Etch with KDE as well, and have dual head working just fine. You need to have xinerama installed first, so install it in your preferred manner (apt-get install libxinerama1 or whatever...).

So first off you have to add your second video card to the xorg file, this is what I have:

Code:

Section "Device"

        Identifier      "Intel i915GM - Internal"

        Driver          "i810"

        Option          "DRI" "true"

        Option          "MonitorLayout" "CRT,LFP"

        Screen          0

EndSection

For two desktop LCDs you should probably use this line:

Option "MonitorLayout" "TMDS,TMDS"

The important part is the Screen option, because you need to number your video cards. My second video card looks like so:

Code:

Section "Device"

        Identifier      "Intel i915GM - External"

        Driver          "i810"

        Option          "DRI" "true"

        Option          "MonitorLayout" "CRT,LFP"

        Screen          1

EndSection

Again, modify the MonitorLayout for yours.

Next you need to provide a section for each monitor similar to mine:

Code:

Section "Monitor"

        Identifier      "CPT:a613"

        HorizSync      28-49

        VertRefresh    43-72

        Option          "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier      "Dell 1907FP"

        HorizSync      30-81

        VertRefresh    56-76

        Option          "DPMS"

EndSection

Then you need to specify two screen sections to specify resolutions etc... This is just like in a normal xorg.conf file, but the important part is that it links video cards to monitors:

Code:

Section "Screen"

        Identifier      "LCD Screen"

        Device          "Intel i915GM - Internal"

        Monitor        "CPT:a613"

        ...etc...

EndSection



Section "Screen"

      Identifier      "External Screen"

      Device          "Intel i915GM - External"

      Monitor        "Dell 1907FP"

      ...etc...

EndSection

Lastly you need to add a "ServerLayout" section and a "ServerFlags" section with Xinerama enabled:

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier      "Default Layout"

        Screen          0      "LCD Screen"

        Screen          1      "External Screen" RightOf "LCD Screen"

        InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"

        InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"

EndSection



Section "ServerFlags"

# comment out this line to stop using xinerama (dual head)

        Option "Xinerama" "true"

EndSection

(make sure the InputDevice lines match your actual devices)

Xinerama is what will allow you to move windows between screens. Without it, you will still get a dual-headed computer, but each screen will be it's own separate KDE desktop. After you have modified the xorg.conf file reboot and then you can do further desktop configuration by right clcking on the KDE desktop and choosing "Configure Desktop".

Let me know if that works.

One note, with Xinerama installed you will not get 3D acceleration. You can get it with two separate desktops on each screen, but not with a shared desktop between two screens.

Good luck!

Hmm....3d acceleration matters to me.
How would two separate desktops behave?
I'm very unused to altering the xorg.conf file and am rather unfamiliar with its contents. Would it be ok if I posted the xorg.conf here for you to give me some specific pointers on for how to do this?
The graphics card is an nvidia 7950 and I'm using the nvidia proprietary driver in case that affects anything.

Two separate desktops just means you have two separate kicker panels and you can't move applications or windows from one desktop to the other, but they both take input from the same mouse and keyboard.

Go ahead and post your xorg.conf and I'll see what I can do to help. I'm assuming your video card has two outputs?

I'm not familiar with nvidia, but it shouldn't really matter if you already have the driver working.

If you don't want Xinerama, then you won't need to install anything to get this working.

Here is my xorg.conf

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)

#

# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using

# values from the debconf database.

#

# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.

# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)

#

# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*

# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg

# package.

#

# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated

# again, run the following command:

#  sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg



Section "Files"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"

        # path to defoma fonts

        FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load        "i2c"

        Load        "bitmap"

        Load        "ddc"

        Load        "dri"

        Load        "extmod"

        Load        "freetype"

        Load        "glx"

        Load        "int10"

        Load        "type1"

        Load        "vbe"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier        "Generic Keyboard"

        Driver                "kbd"

        Option                "CoreKeyboard"

        Option                "XkbRules"        "xorg"

        Option                "XkbModel"        "pc104"

        Option                "XkbLayout"        "us"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier        "Configured Mouse"

        Driver                "mouse"

        Option                "CorePointer"

        Option                "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"

        Option                "Protocol"                "ImPS/2"

        Option                "Emulate3Buttons"        "true"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier        "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"

        Driver                "nvidia"

        BusID                "PCI:7:0:0"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier        "Generic Monitor"

        Option                "DPMS"

        HorizSync        28-96

        VertRefresh        43-60

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier        "Default Screen"

        Device                "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"

        Monitor                "Generic Monitor"

        DefaultDepth        24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                1

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                4

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                8

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                15

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                16

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                24

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier        "Default Layout"

        Screen                "Default Screen"

        InputDevice        "Generic Keyboard"

        InputDevice        "Configured Mouse"

EndSection



Section "DRI"

        Mode        0666

EndSection



Section "Extensions"

        Option "Composite" "Enabled"

EndSection

Ok, I think I like the idea of xinerama. If I needed 3d at some point for some reason (which I have working now) I could just keep this copy of my xorg.conf and switch back to it if I need 3d right?
Thanks for the help so far. I can't wait to see this =)

Ok, first off, backup you xorg.conf. Then try this one:

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)

#

# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using

# values from the debconf database.

#

# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.

# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)

#

# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*

# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg

# package.

#

# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated

# again, run the following command:

#  sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg



Section "Files"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"

        # path to defoma fonts

        FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load        "i2c"

        Load        "bitmap"

        Load        "ddc"

        Load        "dri"

        Load        "extmod"

        Load        "freetype"

        Load        "glx"

        Load        "int10"

        Load        "type1"

        Load        "vbe"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier        "Generic Keyboard"

        Driver                "kbd"

        Option                "CoreKeyboard"

        Option                "XkbRules"        "xorg"

        Option                "XkbModel"        "pc104"

        Option                "XkbLayout"        "us"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier        "Configured Mouse"

        Driver                "mouse"

        Option                "CorePointer"

        Option                "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"

        Option                "Protocol"                "ImPS/2"

        Option                "Emulate3Buttons"        "true"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier        "nVidia1"

        Driver                "nvidia"

        BusID                "PCI:7:0:0"

        Option          "MonitorLayout" "TMDS,TMDS"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier        "nVidia2"

        Driver                "nvidia"

        BusID                "PCI:7:0:0"

        Option          "MonitorLayout" "TMDS,TMDS"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier        "Monitor1"

        Option                "DPMS"

        HorizSync        28-96

        VertRefresh        43-60

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier        "Monitor2"

        Option                "DPMS"

        HorizSync        28-96

        VertRefresh        43-60

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier        "Screen1"

        Device                "nVidia1"

        Monitor                "Monitor1"

        DefaultDepth        24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                1

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                4

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                8

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                15

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                16

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                24

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier        "Screen2"

        Device                "nVidia2"

        Monitor                "Monitor2"

        DefaultDepth        24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                1

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                4

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                8

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                15

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                16

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth                24

                Modes                "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier      "Default Layout"

        Screen          0      "Screen1"

        Screen          1      "Screen2" RightOf "Screen1"

        InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"

        InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"

EndSection



Section "ServerFlags"

# comment out this line to stop using xinerama (dual head)

        Option "Xinerama" "true"

EndSection



Section "DRI"

        Mode        0666

EndSection



Section "Extensions"

        Option "Composite" "Enabled"

EndSection

Now, I have made some assumptions here, like both your monitors take the same parameters. If it doesn't work, we'll have to find parameters specific to yor monitor. Give this a try and see what you get (also remember to install xinerama - you should be able to do this with Synaptic or as root with the command line I gave earlier).

Try using my file as a guide for yours it is setup for two different resolutions separate screens.

Edit: Make sure to have the Load "xtrap" this is what allows the mouse to move between the screens.

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)

#

# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using

# values from the debconf database.

#

# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.

# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)

#

# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*

# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg

# package.

#

# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated

# again, run the following command:

#  sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg



Section "Files"

        FontPath        "/usr/local/share/fonts/truetype"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"

#      FontPath        "/var/lib/deforma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"

#      FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load    "bitmap"

        Load    "dbe"

        Load    "ddc"

#      Load    "dri"

        Load    "extmod"

        Load    "freetype"

        Load    "glx"

        Load    "int10"

        Load    "record"

        Load    "type1"

        Load    "vbe"

        Load    "xtrap"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Keyboard0"

        Driver          "kbd"

        Option          "CoreKeyboard"

        Option          "XkbRules"      "xorg"

        Option          "XkbModel"      "pc105"

        Option          "XkbLayout"    "us"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Mouse0"

        Driver          "mouse"

        Option          "CorePointer"

        Option          "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"

        Option          "Protocol"              "ExplorerPS/2"

#      Option          "Buttons"              "9"

        Option          "Emulate3Buttons"      "true"

        Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "4 5"

#      Option          "ButtonMapping" "1 2 3 6 7 10 11"

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    "SWcursor"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "HWcursor"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "NoAccel"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "ShowCache"                # [<bool>]

        #Option    "ShadowFB"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "UseFBDev"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "Rotate"                    # [<str>]

        #Option    "VideoKey"                  # <i>

        #Option    "FlatPanel"                # [<bool>]

        #Option    "FPDither"                  # [<bool>]

        #Option    "CrtcNumber"                # <i>

        Identifier  "Card0"

        Driver      "nvidia"

        Option      "NoLogo" "on"

        Option      "NvAgp"  "3"

        Option      "RenderAccel" "true"

        Option      "BackingStore" "On"

        Option      "DPI" "100x100"

#      Option      "IgnoreEDID"  "on"

        Option      "IgnoreDisplayDevices"  "TV"

#      Option      "NoBandWidthTest" "1"

#      Option      "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"

        Screen      0

        VendorName  "PNY"

        BoardName  "Verto 5900SE NV35 [GeForce FX 5900SE]"

        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    "accel"                    # [<bool>]

        #Option    "crt_display"              # [<bool>]

        #Option    "composite_sync"            # [<bool>]

        #Option    "hw_cursor"                # [<bool>]

        #Option    "linear"                    # [<bool>]

        #Option    "mmio_cache"                # [<bool>]

        #Option    "panel_display"            # [<bool>]

        #Option    "probe_clocks"              # [<bool>]

        #Option    "reference_clock"          # <freq>

        #Option    "shadow_fb"                # [<bool>]

        #Option    "sw_cursor"                # [<bool>]

        Identifier  "Card1"

        Driver      "nvidia"

        Option      "NoLogo" "on"

        Option      "NvAgp"  "3"

        Option      "RenderAccel" "true"

        Option      "BackingStore" "On"

        Option      "DPI" "100x100"

#      Option      "IgnoreEDID" "on"

#      Option      "NoBandWidthTest" "1"

#      Option      "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"

        Screen      1

        Option      "IgnoreDisplayDevices"  "TV"

        VendorName  "PNY"

        BoardName  "Verto 5900SE NV35 [GeForce FX 5900SE]"

        BusID      "PCI:1:0:0"

EndSection





# NEC P1250 +

Section "Monitor"

      DisplaySize      384  288    # mm

      Identifier  "Monitor0"

      VendorName  "NEC"

      ModelName    "P1250 +"

      HorizSync    31-110 # DDC-probed

      VertRefresh  55-160 # DDC-probed

      Option      "DPMS"  "true"

      Option      "BackingStore" "On"

EndSection



# Samsung 955DF

Section "Monitor"

        DisplaySize      360  270    # mm

        Identifier  "Monitor1"

        VendorName  "OEC"

        ModelName    "15db"

        HorizSync  30-85    #30-69

        VertRefresh 50-160  #40-120

        Option      "DPMS"

        Option      "BackingStore" "On"

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "Screen0"

        Device    "Card0"

        Monitor    "Monitor0"

        DefaultDepth  24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    24

                Modes    "1600x1200"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier "Screen1"

        Device    "Card1"

        Monitor    "Monitor1"

        DefaultDepth 24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth    24

                Modes    "1280x1024" "800x600"

        EndSubSection

EndSection







Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier      "DualHead"

        Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0

        Screen      1  "Screen1" LeftOf "Screen0"

        InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"

        InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection

JoeDuncan,
I tried the xorg.conf file with minor edits for resolution on the 1707fp. When I restarted the x server only one screen was active, the larger one, the 2407wfp was not displaying anything. Also, how do I determine which head on my graphics card is being seen as which device in the xorg.conf?
Thank you,
Phoenix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Zero

The connector on the bottom next to the motherboard is usually the first one, 0 in my file. Can you post the xorg.conf you are using and the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file (put this in two posts it is rather big) make sure to copy the file to a backup before starting X again with a working file as it is rather big.

which one is which if the two heads are on the same graphics card and the motherboard has no video out on its own?
nvidia 7950
will post that info tomorrow,
I'm away from the machine for the night.
Thank you all again for the help so far

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Zero

As I said above the connector at the bottom next to the motherboard is the first one at least that is how it has been on the two cards I have owned. The motherboard having video on it would not matter anyways because the BusID numbers tell X which card you are talking too and the Screen 0 or Screen 1 tells X which connector to use for the display.

ok. i'll post that info tomorrow.
thanks