Multiseat Linux System

susewarrior · October 2, 2010, 7:24am

Hi

I am trying to build a multiseat linux system(Build a Six-headed, Six-user Linux System LG #124). I am posting some outputs

output of lspci | grep VGA

00:0d.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] (rev a2)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G98 [GeForce 8400 GS] (rev a1)

ls /dev/input/mouse*

/dev/input/mouse0  /dev/input/mouse1  /dev/input/mouse2

more /proc/bus/input/devices

I: Bus=0019 Vendor=0000 Product=0001 Version=0000
N: Name="Power Button"
P: Phys=PNP0C0C/button/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXSYBUS:00/PNP0C0C:00/input/input0
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event0 
B: EV=3
B: KEY=100000 0 0 0

I: Bus=0019 Vendor=0000 Product=0001 Version=0000
N: Name="Power Button"
P: Phys=LNXPWRBN/button/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXPWRBN:00/input/input1
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event1 
B: EV=3
B: KEY=100000 0 0 0

I: Bus=0017 Vendor=0001 Product=0001 Version=0100
N: Name="Macintosh mouse button emulation"
P: Phys=
S: Sysfs=/devices/virtual/input/input2
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=mouse0 event2 
B: EV=7
B: KEY=70000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B: REL=3

I: Bus=0011 Vendor=0001 Product=0001 Version=ab41
N: Name="AT Translated Set 2 keyboard"
P: Phys=isa0060/serio0/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/input/input3
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event3 
B: EV=120013
B: KEY=4 2000000 3803078 f800d001 feffffdf ffefffff ffffffff fffffffe
B: MSC=10
B: LED=7

I: Bus=0011 Vendor=0002 Product=0005 Version=0000
N: Name="ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse"
P: Phys=isa0060/serio1/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/i8042/serio1/input/input4
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=mouse1 event4 
B: EV=7
B: KEY=70000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B: REL=103

I: Bus=0001 Vendor=10ec Product=0888 Version=0001
N: Name="HDA Digital PCBeep"
P: Phys=card0/codec#0/beep0
S: Sysfs=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:05.0/input/input5
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event5 
B: EV=40001
B: SND=6

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=046d Product=c05a Version=0111
N: Name="Logitech USB Optical Mouse"
P: Phys=usb-0000:00:02.0-3/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input6
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=mouse2 event6 
B: EV=17
B: KEY=ff0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B: REL=143
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=04d9 Product=1603 Version=0110
N: Name="  USB Keyboard"
P: Phys=usb-0000:00:02.0-4/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/usb2/2-4/2-4:1.0/input/input7
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event7 
B: EV=120013
B: KEY=10000 7 ff800000 7ff febeffdf f3cfffff ffffffff fffffffe
B: MSC=10
B: LED=7

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=04d9 Product=1603 Version=0110
N: Name="  USB Keyboard"
P: Phys=usb-0000:00:02.0-4/input1
S: Sysfs=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/usb2/2-4/2-4:1.1/input/input8
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event8 
B: EV=13
B: KEY=2000000 39fa d941d001 1e0000 0 0 0
B: MSC=10

I have connected two mouse and two keyboard (one PS/2 and the other USB). I have also connected two monitors and i am getting displays on both the screens. I am also able to move my cursor on both the screens.

I am having trouble in configuring xorg.conf. I am running Suse 11.3 desktop on my PC. Also, I have one onboard nvidia graphics 6150SE and I have put one nvidia 8400GS 512Mb in the 16X PCIe slot for the additional seat…

So kindly tell me what should I do now or what things are missing ?? For any further info abt my PC plz tell me to post outputs(specify the commands for the same…)

regards
susewarrior

john_hudson · October 2, 2010, 10:55am

Welcome to opensuse. Have a look at Portal:KIWI-LTSP - openSUSE which could provide a ready made answer to your needs.

vodoo · October 2, 2010, 12:59pm

Reading the article linked in the OPs post I see:

While the system worked very well, it was extremely unstable.

This does not sound very encouraging to me. 11.3 does no longer use Xorg.conf, so KIWI-LTSP is probably the way to go.

user · October 2, 2010, 3:39pm

On 2010-10-02 13:06, vodoo wrote:

> This does not sound very encouraging to me. 11.3 does no longer use
> Xorg.conf,

It does not generate one by default, but it uses it if it exists.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” at Telcontar)

cjcox · October 2, 2010, 5:50pm

susewarrior wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> I am trying to build a multiseat linux system(‘Build a Six-headed,
> Six-user Linux System LG #124’
> (http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html)). I am posting some outputs
>
> output of lspci | grep VGA

Well there are easy ways and hard ways to do things. This would be a hard
way. And I’m not saying there isn’t a reason for wanting to do things the
hard way. For example, you want TOP performance ultra-high res mega 3D
gaming. However if that is NOT your goal, or if there is no interest in
that at all, then the article and work you’re going through is not worth it
IMHO.

Are you needing ultra high end 3D accelerated graphics? Do you need high
end multimedia?

If not… then I think you’d be happier with FreeNX on the openSUSE side
(I’m typing this from a client session to my openSUSE 11.3 FreeNX’d). On a
local LAN, even with just gigabit, you’ll get reasonable video performance
(enough for youtube), but audio sync is an issue. Even with the hard
solution you’re looking at, I’d think there be way too many issues with
multimedia to the different seats.

So… IMHO, it all depends on what your needs are. Obviously, the FreeNX
solution CAN be considerably cheaper in terms of time and equipment.

I have used HP Thin Clients as my NX client front ends without issue. And
I’m sure there are better/cheaper solns out there.

The other bonus of an NX style setup is that the “seats” can be remote…
evan WAN remote (where NX really excels).

In fact, I’m actually typing this remote via VPN to my openSUSE 11.3 which
is running as a Xen guest at my office.

Just suggesting a possible alternative… though it can be a lot of fun
doing things the hard way… so I wish you well if you continue going that
route.

susewarrior · October 5, 2010, 5:56am

cjcox:

susewarrior wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> I am trying to build a multiseat linux system(‘Build a Six-headed,
> Six-user Linux System LG #124’
> (Build a Six-headed, Six-user Linux System LG #124)). I am posting some outputs
>
> output of lspci | grep VGA

Well there are easy ways and hard ways to do things. This would be a hard
way. And I’m not saying there isn’t a reason for wanting to do things the
hard way. For example, you want TOP performance ultra-high res mega 3D
gaming. However if that is NOT your goal, or if there is no interest in
that at all, then the article and work you’re going through is not worth it
IMHO.

Are you needing ultra high end 3D accelerated graphics? Do you need high
end multimedia?

If not… then I think you’d be happier with FreeNX on the openSUSE side
(I’m typing this from a client session to my openSUSE 11.3 FreeNX’d). On a
local LAN, even with just gigabit, you’ll get reasonable video performance
(enough for youtube), but audio sync is an issue. Even with the hard
solution you’re looking at, I’d think there be way too many issues with
multimedia to the different seats.

So… IMHO, it all depends on what your needs are. Obviously, the FreeNX
solution CAN be considerably cheaper in terms of time and equipment.

I have used HP Thin Clients as my NX client front ends without issue. And
I’m sure there are better/cheaper solns out there.

The other bonus of an NX style setup is that the “seats” can be remote…
evan WAN remote (where NX really excels).

In fact, I’m actually typing this remote via VPN to my openSUSE 11.3 which
is running as a Xen guest at my office.

Just suggesting a possible alternative… though it can be a lot of fun
doing things the hard way… so I wish you well if you continue going that
route.

Hi

I do not need any high end graohics or 3d performance. All that i will be doing is browsing the internet, mostly reading stuff, no youtube, facebook,etc, i don’t even need sound support… the work will only be reading texts, checking mails no gmaing or anything high end…

I am not very keen right now to do things the hard way… bcoz i have time constraints, i want to set this multiseat, thin client (whatever you may call it…) as early as possible although i would love to do it the hard way as you get to learn a lot… but for now i just want to finish as quickly as i can.

Any other suggestion from ur side would be most welcome… plz explain the thing u mentioned above in a more detailed manner like what hardware would be required, etc…

regards

susewarrior

gropiuskalle · October 5, 2010, 6:25am

cjcox gave you a hint:

If not… then I think you’d be happier with FreeNX on the openSUSE side

Should be enough to do some google-research.

susewarrior · October 5, 2010, 9:30am

hi

ok i will do some google-research…

thanks a lot !!!

regards

ubun2warrior

user · October 5, 2010, 7:34pm

On 2010-10-02 07:36, susewarrior wrote:

> I have connected two mouse and two keyboard (one PS/2 and the other
> USB). I have also connected two monitors and i am getting displays on
> both the screens. I am also able to move my cursor on both the screens.

Interesting.

I saw a commercial kit to do this sort of thing in Windows. They sold it to share the same computer
between two kids at home - cheaper than two computers, at least until the kids start serious gaming

I remember talking about this time ago, in the Spanish opensuse mail list IIRC. I would give you the
reference, but I don’t remember enough of it to find the the thread. I’ll ask them, perhaps some one
remembers.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” at Telcontar)

malcolmlewis · October 5, 2010, 8:58pm

Hi
This one maybe, Build a Six-headed, Six-user Linux System
http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.32.19-0.3-default
up 6:11, 6 users, load average: 0.20, 0.09, 0.02
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - Driver Version: 256.53

user · October 6, 2010, 3:49am

On 2010-10-05 19:34, Carlos E. R. wrote:

> I remember talking about this time ago, in the Spanish opensuse mail list IIRC. I would give you the
> reference, but I don’t remember enough of it to find the the thread. I’ll ask them, perhaps some one
> remembers.

Got something. They told me of one such thread in 2005, which pointed to others. I got some links:

<http://cambuca.ldhs.cetuc.puc-rio.br/multiuser/>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiseat_configuration#GNU.2FLinux>

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” at Telcontar)