Suse 11.1 on M6400 & Dual 24" Monitors

StartingOut · April 9, 2009, 6:01am

Hi

I have installed Suse 11.1 64 Bit on a Dell M6400 laptop and it runs very nicely and fast.

Only problem is getting the dual Dell 2408WFP monitors to work when the laptop is docked.
The laptop’s LCD turns On (even though it is docked) and 1 of the 24" LCD turns On. Hence I have an extended desktop working but what I really wanted was to have the display on the dual 24" monitors and the laptop’s LCD Off.

The dual monitors are connected via the docking station’s dual DVI outputs. The graphics card is a Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M and I have installed the driver via YaST/Nvidia repository. The system is up to date with all the patches etc.

Initially I have tried the SaX2 approach to activate the Dual Heads but no luck. I have spent a lot of time trying to get my xorg.conf file to work with the dual monitors but the laptops display aways turns On (left hand side desktop), the first 24" shows the right hand side desktop and the second 24" monitor stays black.

Has anyone had this problem before or has some hints on how to fix it?

I have listed the xorg.conf file below -

/…/

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2009-04-09T10:01:02+1000.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “Files”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “dbe”
Load “extmod”
Load “fbdevhw”
Load “glx”
Load “record”
Load “freetype”
Load “type1”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “kbd”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbLayout” “us”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “synaptics”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “Buttons” “7”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Emulate3Buttons” “on”
Option “InputFashion” “Mouse”
Option “Name” “Touchpad”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “SHMConfig” “on”
Option “Vendor” “Synaptics”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[3]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “PS/2 Generic Mouse”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Dell 2408WFP [0]”
VendorName “DELL”
ModelName “Dell 2408WFP”
HorizSync 31-90
VertRefresh 59-75
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1024x768”
DisplaySize 345 259
UseModes “Modes[0]”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Dell 2408WFP [1]”
VendorName “DELL”
ModelName “Dell 2408WFP”
HorizSync 31-90
VertRefresh 59-75
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1024x768”
DisplaySize 345 259
UseModes “Modes[0]”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Device “NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M”
Monitor “Dell 2408WFP [0]”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Screen[1]”
Device “NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M”
Monitor “Dell 2408WFP [1]”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section “Device”
Identifier “NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M”
Driver “nvidia”
VendorName “Videocard vendor”
BoardName “NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M”
BusID “PCI:1:0:0”
Option “TwinView” “true”
Option “TwinViewOrientation” “RightOf”
Option “SecondMonitorHorizSync” “31-50”
Option “SecondMonitorVertRefresh” “50-60”
Option “MetaModes” “1024x768,1024x768;1024x600,1024x600;800x600,800x600;768x576,768x576;640x480,640x480”
Option “ConnectedMonitor” “FPD,FPD”
EndSection

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
InputDevice “Mouse[3]” “SendCoreEvents”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
Screen “Screen[0]”
EndSection

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
EndSection

Thanks for your help.

StartingOut · April 9, 2009, 1:15pm

Hi

I have tried a different approach. Logging in as root, I used the Nvidia Configuration tool (System > Configuration > Configuration Nvidia X Server Setting) as tried to get the docked laptop monitor Off and both 24" monitors On.

I used the Detect Monitors button to find the 3 monitors (laptops LCD panel and 2 x 24" LCD monitors) and then spent some time turning the laptops LCD panel Off, 2 x 24" LCD monitors On and getting the 2 x 24" LCD monitors side by side, 1200 x 1024 resolution and it worked!!

Applied the setting, still working ok and saved the setting to the xorg.conf file, all seemed ok.

Restarted the X server and I was back to the initial setting?!!
The Nvidia setting were not saved. Repeated the setting, saved as root again, this time not merging with the xorg.conf file.

Restarted the X server and I was back to the initial setting?!!

The setting are not being saved and at this stage I had proved the concept but just need to keep the settings. The the Nvidia Configuration tool is actually writing the file. But on restarting X, the working setting are being lost somehow or the setting being saved are incomplete?

I have listed the xorg.conf file -

nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings

nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder62) Thu Feb 5 00:09:30 PST 2009

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout0”
Screen 0 “Screen0” 0 0
InputDevice “Keyboard0” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse0” “CorePointer”
EndSection

Section “Files”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “dbe”
Load “extmod”
Load “type1”
Load “freetype”
Load “glx”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “Xinerama” “0”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
# generated from default
Identifier “Mouse0”
Driver “mouse”
Option “Protocol” “auto”
Option “Device” “/dev/psaux”
Option “Emulate3Buttons” “no”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
# generated from default
Identifier “Keyboard0”
Driver “kbd”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier “Monitor0”
VendorName “Unknown”
ModelName “LGD”
HorizSync 30.0 - 75.0
VertRefresh 60.0
Option “DPMS”
EndSection

Section “Device”
Identifier “Device0”
Driver “nvidia”
VendorName “NVIDIA Corporation”
BoardName “Quadro FX 3700M”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Screen0”
Device “Device0”
Monitor “Monitor0”
DefaultDepth 24
Option “TwinView” “1”
Option “TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder” “DFP-1”
Option “metamodes” “DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1280x1024 +0+0, DFP-2: 1280x1024 +1280+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL”
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Any ideas ???

StartingOut · April 13, 2009, 10:39am

Hi

The Nvidia Configuration utility is definitely writing the xorg.conf file so I figure that the file is lacking some settings. I noticed that it only listed 1 monitor and I am using 3 (docked laptop screen, and 2 x 24" LCDs) so I have added the extra monitors to the xorg.conf file.
I have listed the updated xorg.conf file but have not tested it yet as I am still on holidays. I will test it tomorrow.

Is there anything that I should change?

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder62)  Thu Feb  5 00:09:30 PST 2009

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

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

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-0"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-1"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-2"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nvidia"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "nvidia"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1280x1024 +0+0, DFP-2: 1280x1024 +1280+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Thanks for your help.

StartingOut · April 14, 2009, 1:18am

Hi

I am back at work and have tried my proposed xorg.conf file.
No good but managed to get something to work, can you have a look and provide some feedback?


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder62)  Thu Feb  5 00:09:30 PST 2009


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

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

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-0"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-1"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-2"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nvidia"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1280x1024 +0+0, DFP-2: 1280x1024 +1280+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1920x1200 +0+0, DFP-2: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-2: 1920x1200 +1640+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Hoping to get some feedback as I am not making a lot of progress so far.

StartingOut · April 14, 2009, 12:20pm

Hi

Is anyone out there??

gminnerup · April 15, 2009, 12:28pm

I’m guessing here but as nobody else has come forward I’ll try
First of all, stay clear of Sax2 with dual monitors and NVIDIA cards. It just messes things up. Secondly, I’m not sure if it’s the same problem but here’s my experience:
I have two monitors on an NVIDIA card, one of which is portrait (rotated). I’ve recently decided that I’d rather have the portrait monitor to the left of the other one and simply switched them around, leaving them on the same DVI connections. This is a dual boot configuration with Vista, and I noticed that I can change the primary display with the NVDIA drivers in Windows, whereas Linux seems to assume that the one on which the BIOS starts must also be the primary monitor. No problem, as you can simply move the panels over, but maybe there’s a pointer to your issue - as the BIOS obviously loads from the laptop, maybe Linux refuses to start anywhere else, and therefore ignores any settings which disable the laptop monitor?
Just a stab in the dark…

StartingOut · April 16, 2009, 2:55am

Hi gminnerup

Thanks for the reply.

I have given up on Sax2 as you mentioned. I too want to rotate the second 24" monitor to portrait but I will just get the basic settings working first.

I had not thought of the Bios settings but with some digging I found the Nvidia Configuration tool (same/similar to Windows version) and this may help you as well.

I used it as below -
Logging in as root, I used the Nvidia Configuration tool (System > Configuration > Configuration Nvidia X Server Setting) and tried to get the docked laptop monitor Off and both 24" monitors On. This worked a treat!!

But for some reason the Nvidia Configuration tool settings are not being saved correctly as when I reboot I am back to just my primary 24" monitor.
It almost works correctly as the docked laptop LCD is Off and the primary 24" monitor is On, only problem is the second 24" monitor is black.

So my problem is even though the Nvidia Configuration tool allows me to setup the monitors correctly, the second 24" monitor settings are not being saved for some reason.

I have listed the xorg.conf file that the Nvidia Configuration tool created.


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder62)  Thu Feb  5 00:09:30 PST 2009


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

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

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-0"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-1"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "DFP-2"
    VendorName     "Dell"
    ModelName      "Dell 2408WFP"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nvidia"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1280x1024 +0+0, DFP-2: 1280x1024 +1280+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1920x1200 +0+0, DFP-2: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-2: 1920x1200 +1640+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Any ideas??

gminnerup · April 16, 2009, 5:56am

The NVIDIA configuration tool can only save settings if run as super user. Try from a terminal:

su
password
nvidia-settings

When finished, it will prompt you to save the new settings to xorg.conf.

gminnerup · April 16, 2009, 6:18am

Sorry, wasn’t reading carefully enough, you were logged in as root (though trying to save the settings with nvidia-settings run from a terminal might be worth a try).
The server settings section right at the beginning looks funny. You sure that’s right?
I’m a bit out of my depth here, so just some intuitions that might help, or not:
does the video card support three monitors? Does Twinview support merging two screens from three? Have you tried three separate X screens? Aren’t the docking stations’ two DVI outputs only pass-through,i.e. to connect two external laptop connectors? So if:

your NVIDIA card supports two screens,
one of them is the built-in LCD
the second goes to the docking station, but as only one screen.
Still don’t understand how you made it work on the fly, though. You sure you had fully functioning dual screens under Twinview, with panels and all, and the internal LCD blank?

One more question: are you Gnome or KDE? I’m using Gnome myself, and have heard that KDE 4.x has all kinds of issues with multiple screens.

StartingOut · April 16, 2009, 9:00am

Hi gminnerup

Thanks for the reply.
I should have said that I am using KDE 3.5 earlier.

I too am out of my depth with xorg.conf file but the file posted is what the Nvidia Configuration tool saved i.e. not a merged save. I got rid of the Sax2 xorg.conf file and just used the Nvidia Configuration tool’s one.

I have tried the Nvidia Configuration tool logged in as root and also from the terminal as root but no luck unfortunately.

The Nvidia card is a Quadro FX 3700M and it supports dual monitors. I managed via the Nvidia Configuration tool to turn Off the laptops LCD and turn On both the external 24" monitors.
Works perfectly…until I reboot. Then I have the laptops LCD Off (Good) and the primary external 24" monitor On (Good) but the second 24" monitor is Off (Bad).

You sure you had fully functioning dual screens under Twinview, with panels and all, and the internal LCD blank?
Yes, worked perfectly. The Nvidia Configuration tool is great, could not have done it without its help. But for some reason the Nvidia Configuration tool settings are not being saved correctly as when I reboot I am back to just my primary 24" monitor.

From what I can make out the -

    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP-2: 1920x1200 +1640+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"

is turning Off the laptops LCD and turning On both the external 24" monitors.

I hope this makes sense…
Thanks for your help.

gminnerup · April 16, 2009, 9:37am

Sorry to keep harping on about the same point: if the card supports dual monitors, isn’t the first output taken by the LCD monitor, leaving only one more? Sure you can disable it, but that doesn’t give you two more on the other VGA/DVI output does it?
Assuming that the laptop only has one external output, I don’t understand how the docking station can “double it up”.

StartingOut · April 16, 2009, 1:22pm

Hi gminnerup

I see where you are coming from now…

The laptop is docked into a docking station/replicator which has a 2 x DVI outputs i.e. DVI-1 and DVI-2. Hence when the laptop is docked the laptop’s LCD is closed (and Off) and both of the external 24" monitor are “powered” by the DVI connectors.

Hence I can get the dual external 24" monitors working from a laptop by using the docking station. I will send a picture of the setup tomorrow.

Thanks for your help:)

gminnerup · April 16, 2009, 2:24pm

Ah, I see, didn’t know that was possible!
To take up an earlier suggestion, just for testing purposes: why not try to ditch Twinview and run two separate X screens (through nvidia-settings)? You might not like that as a permanent solution (no 3D acceleration if you use Xinerama, for instance) but if it works - ie. if both monitors come up on boot) we’ll have narrowed down the problem a little bit: could be something to do with KDE then. You said that you’re planning to rotate one (or both?) monitors anyway later: Twinview only rotates both (as they make one screen) so if you want to rotate only one you have to go the X screens/Xinerama route anyway (which is what I have done).

gminnerup · April 16, 2009, 2:34pm

Hi, me again
I’be been thinking about that docking station of yours. Now if I understand that correctly, inserting the laptop into the dock disables the LCD and redirects the dualhead support of the video card through the laptop’s external DVI port to DVI-1 and DVI-2 on the dock? Still don’t understand how that works but if it does, then why do you have three monitors in your xorg.conf??? Do all three show up in nvidia-settings? Surely, if the dock disables the internal LCD, nvidia-settings can’t see it any longer?
Puzzled Penguin indeed (though I’ve now been promoted to Student Penguin for my verbosity).

STurtle · April 16, 2009, 5:15pm

Are you booting with the lid closed?

Well, I am just using a M4400 with a TwinView setup between ONE external LCD and the internal LCD. However, it is important that the Lid is open at boot time for this to work, as switching later by Fn-F8 only activates a cloned view and a limited resolution range. So un-/docking without reboot is a pain, unless the resolutions match exactly (they don’t for me).

However, booting with the lid closed selects the external display as primary, so maybe that is what you need to do?

StartingOut · April 17, 2009, 1:53am

Hi gminnerup

Congrats on becoming a Student Penguin!

As promised I have uploaded a picture of the setup.
Second picture is showing dual external monitors setup.
Third picture is showing the laptop’s LCD is disabled.

http://thumbnails11.imagebam.com/3292/dd030032912668.gif](ImageBam) http://thumbnails8.imagebam.com/3292/0e50dd32912669.gif](ImageBam) http://thumbnails17.imagebam.com/3292/28cd2132912671.gif](ImageBam)

Now if I understand that correctly, inserting the laptop into the dock disables the LCD and redirects the dualhead support of the video card through the laptop’s external DVI port to DVI-1 and DVI-2 on the dock
Correct, though had to use the Nvidia Configuration Tool to actual get it to work.

Still don’t understand how that works but if it does, then why do you have three monitors in your xorg.conf???
I use my laptop at home and unfortunately don’t have any 24" monitors there so I actually have 3 monitors. Laptop LCD and 2 x 24" external monitors.

I have a virgin xorg.conf file fleshly created by the Nvidia Configuration Tool this morning listed below. I had modified the earlier one to try to get it to work but no luck.


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder62)  Thu Feb  5 00:09:30 PST 2009

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

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

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "LGD"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 75.0
    VertRefresh     60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 3700M"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: NULL, DFP-1: 1920x1200 +0+0, DFP-2: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-1: 1024x768 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-1: 800x600 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-1: 640x480 +0+0, DFP-2: NULL"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Do all three show up in nvidia-settings? Surely, if the dock disables the internal LCD, nvidia-settings can’t see it any longer?
The Nvidia Configuration Tool can see all 3 monitors and via the tool I can turn any 2 On.

The core of the problem is that the Nvidia Configuration Tool does a great job of setting up the monitors the way I want them and saves the configuration to the xorg.conf file but on the reboot the configuration is lost/incomplete/not valid/??? Anyway, on reboot I get the laptops LCD On and the primary external 24" On rather than have both external 24" monitors On.

The plot thickens…

StartingOut · April 17, 2009, 2:03am

Hi STurtle

Thanks for your reply.

I boot with the laptop in the docking station with the lid closed and on start up I get the laptops LCD On and the primary external 24" On rather than have both external 24" monitors On.

Maybe I have fibbed there, have to double check but on start up I definitely only get the primary 24" external monitor On rather than having both external 24" monitors On (as configured in the Nvidia Configuration Tool).

I have uploaded a picture of my setup in the previous post to try to make the situation clearer.

Thanks for your help.

gminnerup · April 17, 2009, 9:29am

Impressive pictures. What about a deal: I find a solution and get one of your monitors
Not that you’d be running a risk because I’m stumped. Had enough trouble to get two monitors going with one rotated, three’s doing my head in

StartingOut · April 17, 2009, 12:17pm

Hi gminnerup

Glad you like the setup, can’t help with the monitor though:)

I think that we are relatively close as so far -

When docked laptop LCD is Off (Correct)
Primary 24" monitor is On (Correct)
Dual (second) 24" monitor is Off (Wrong)

2/3 finished…Ha Ha

I just need a better understanding of the xorg.conf

Thanks for your help

gminnerup · April 17, 2009, 3:27pm

I want the Dell 30in anyway, not your puny 24in >:)
Let us know if/when you solve this, I’d be interested to find out. I doubt that the answer lies in xorg.conf though, I bet it’s a hardware issue to do with the video card only supporting TWO monitors at any time. So, for example:

when you boot, it assumes it’s screen 0 (internal) and 1.
when you disable screen 0 on the fly, it’s 1 and 2.
when you reboot, it’s back to 0 and 1. Even with 0 disabled, it’s unable to produce a picture for 2.
Or something along those lines… When you reboot and you get a blank screen 2, have you tried restarting X with Ctrl-Alt-Bckspace (twice)?