Dual monitor setup (ATI)

[arnekolja]

Hi there,

do you know how Compiz behaves in different multi monitor environments?

I am running a big desktop over two monitors right now, but since it's not perfectly set up I'd like to find my way to do it.

One problem might be that my monitors dont have the same resolution. One is 1280x1024 and one is 1680x1050. At the moment I am running both at the lower one, but as you might have noticed the second screen is 16:10, so it's not only the scaling itself that's not nice this way.

So my questions are:

1. How does Linux/Xgl/Compiz itself behave in a multi monitor setup with different resolutions? Are there any problems? For example I cannot imagine how it would look like when having two different resolutions on the cube and things like that. Is that possible?

2. What's the best way to set up a multi monitor environment? For me as a ATI user there seem to be at least two ways: a) Doing it using the ATI driver to scale to a big desktop and b) giving two screens in xorg.conf with positioning. Do both work with Xgl+Compiz?

3. Finally... help me configuring it :D

Well, I think that's all for the moment, so every help is very welcome :-)

Thanks in advance

Arne

[adamk]

Arne,

Specifically, what model video card? Unless it's an r500 or newer, the maximum 3D texture resolution of the card is 2048, so compiz won't work unless both monitors are no larger than 1024x768 (or 1280x1024, but only if you tell xorg that they are stacked vertically).

I've used two monitors on an ATI x1300 and it works pretty well with fglrx (using "Big Desktop") and Xgl, though it can be hard to get Xgl to show the xinerama extension (necessary if you want a single cube on each desktop, and windows to only maximize to one monitor). But I can tell you how to do that under Feisty.

I have never used Big Desktop with two different resolution monitors, and I can't comment on if that is possible, unfortunatley.

Oh, and my one attempt to get separate screens, each running Xgl+compiz, failed. That doesn't mean it isn't possible, but I couldn't get it to work properly (though I must admit I didn't try hard).

Adam

[arnekolja]

Well, I think what I want is maximizing to one monitor, having native (different) resolutions and the desktop... errr... maybe as a "big" desktop too, since it's quite good imho to have one two-monitor-screen on a cubes side. This works quite well from a desktop point of view, but it of course maximizes about both monitors (damn) and doesn't have both native screen resolutions.

So ATIs "big desktop" is not going to be my decision, if I want to - let's have this as a main task - maximize to only one screen, right?

Btw: I've got an R600 card (ATI HD2900XT with 512 megs).

[adamk]

You can use "Big Desktop" and still have windows maximize to one monitor or the other. The "Big Desktop" mode of the fglrx drivers has a pseudo-xinerama extension in it, so any window manager just needs to be xinerama aware (which compiz is, thankfully).

[arnekolja]

Really? hmmm... doesn't do that here, is there an option to activate xinerama support or something like that? When maximizing a window it stretches over both screens here... running Compiz 0.5.5

[adamk]

Gnome or KDE?

Here's the startxgl.sh script I use to start with gnome. Note the "+xinerama" option for Xgl:

#!/bin/bash
Xgl -fullscreen :1 -ac -br -accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:fbo +xinerama & sleep 2
DISPLAY=:1
cookie="$(xauth -i nextract - :0 | cut -d ' ' -f 9)"
xauth -i add :1 . "$cookie"
exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session

That will activate xinerama support in Xgl.

Adam

[arnekolja]

Very nice, thats it :-) Maximizes like it should do now. Thank you again ;-) Nice side effect: The Gnome panel bars now don't stretch over both screens too, One more thing I wanted to fix some day ;-)

Now the only remaining issue is the non-native resolution of my secondary screen.

I think I could do this using aticonfig, but there's a "small" issue with it:

akb@localhost:~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
Connected monitors: none
Enabled monitors: none
I don't know what makes my eyes believe seeing two monitors, but they don't seem to exist *lol*

edit: Using xinerama now the cube has one monitor on a side, so it looks like two cubes, just changed +-1 side, thats okay too :-)

[adamk]

Unfortunately, I'm not even sure if Big Desktop even supports different resolutions. There aren't too many ATI/fglrx users on these boards, and probably even fewer you have used multiple monitors.

Here are a couple of places that might have someone able to help you out with your Big Desktop configuration:

http://www.rage3d.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=88
http://www.phoronix.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19

Please let me know how you make out.

Adam

[arnekolja]

Yippie, I know got it running on my own :-)

2 Monitors, left side 1280x1024 with gnome panels running, right side 1680x1050, enhanced desktop area. Well, not tested with Xgl so far, but normal xorg atm.

The only flaw is that the secondary screen is refreshing slow as hell, as if there would be missing xorg abilities or something. Do you have an idea?

Here's the brand new xorg.conf:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
Screen "aticonfig-Screen[1]" RightOf "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
Option "Xinerama" "on"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# path to defoma fonts
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"
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 "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[1]"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
Option "DesktopSetup" "horizontal"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[1]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[1]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[1]"
Device "aticonfig-Device[1]"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

edit: Interesting... Xgl with Compiz works, but leaves the second monitor unusable. It's got the right resolution, I can access it using my mouse, but windows that I drag there aren't rendered aswell as the wallpaper is missing. :D And all just for trickeling with having two screen resolutions...

[approaching236]

about that script that is supposed to fix the maximization of a window to one monitor rather than both. is that something that needs to start xgl? currently i have it set up to start compiz using xserver-xgl, and i am worried that that would either break the xserver-xgl or make a possible confliction like making a session on top of xserver-xgl will. i am on a clean install of gutsy, and am using the fglrx driver for an x1950 pro card.

[adamk]

I'm not sure I understand your question. While specific requirements need to be passed to Xgl in order to properly enable the xinerama extension on that server, it should hopefully be taken care of automatically when you install xserver-xgl on gutsy.

Adam

[twizler]

Fixes:
aticonfig --query-monitor
Connected monitors: none
Enabled monitors: non
In terminal window type : sudo export DISPLAY=:0
.. you have compiz running and it doesnt read your terminal as display 0 compiz is another layer ontop of X windows/gnome.
Now after the above command.

aticonfig --query-monitor

-_________--
THIS site has a how to on compiz with dual-monitor support using ATI radeon cards. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=592016
___________________________

ATI DUAL MONITOR GUSTY dual-head ati
== dual monitor --- dual LCD -- dual Display 2 monitor-- ATI RADEON X600 ATI RADEON X800
ATI RADEON X1300 ATI RADEON X1600
ATI RADEON 9000 and OTHER radeons

1.Run terminal
sudo fglrxinfo
---- spits out something like ----
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
Foo FOOO xxxxx
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon
This should NOT say mesa-if mesa go back make sure ur using restricted drivers and go over above how to.
SHOULD BE similar to above: OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
__________________
2.Run terminal :
aticonfig --query-monitor
____ out put______
Connected monitors: crt1, crt2
EnableF d monitors: crt1, crt2
******WARNING IF YOU GET the infamous __
Connected monitors: noneREAD
Enabled monitors: none
in terminal window type : sudo export DISPLAY=:0
sudo export DISPLAY=:0
(explanation at http://www.lunders-and.no/wp/?p=96 )
This will export your proper display:
____________
3.In terminal:
Type again: aticonfig –query-monitor
( NUTS of Bolts ATI aticonfig settings things you will want to know once it works VERY GOOD Read!
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=301941
)
4.In terminal
sudo aticonfig --initial –overlay-type=Xv

sudo aticonfig –desktop-setup=horizontal


-----------WARNING-----this command will bounce you out of ur desktop so save and bookmark stuff.
BEFORE YOU DO THIS ____READ ___ BELOW
( CRTL + ALT + BACKSPACE )
READ
You should see one window with a login and another window that is blank not a clone.
once logged into the desktop you should see a clone again--- on both screens.
You have to enable big desktop
--> system --> preferences--> screen resolutions --->
There should be a VERY LARGE display:> mine is 3800 x 1200
WOW __ IT WORKS
( again If you need other type configurations for your monitor setup-- go to the site below
Some cards may need another step so Look at this site -- if your card still doesn't work. mine have all worked just by following the steps i provided.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=301941


Very nice, thats it :-) Maximizes like it should do now. Thank you again ;-) Nice side effect: The Gnome panel bars now don't stretch over both screens too, One more thing I wanted to fix some day ;-)

Now the only remaining issue is the non-native resolution of my secondary screen.

I think I could do this using aticonfig, but there's a "small" issue with it:

akb@localhost:~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
Connected monitors: none
Enabled monitors: none
I don't know what makes my eyes believe seeing two monitors, but they don't seem to exist *lol*

edit: Using xinerama now the cube has one monitor on a side, so it looks like two cubes, just changed +-1 side, thats okay too :-)

[twizler]

QUESTION:
i have everything working. compiz flgrx xgl ATI BIG desktop on ubuntu gusty 7.1

ISSUE: When i maximize a window like firefox on monitor 1. it will -- expand HUGE on both monitors. I want it to only maximize on the monitor that the window on not mon1 and mon2.

I have read posts about ATI support for +xinerama" option for Xgl:
HOW DO i use it ?? Can someone please give a example of a working start up script? (in the ubuntu fourms this is really big issue for ATI dual monitor gusty users.

This is the only place i have found where people say they got it working.

I am big on writing how to docs and posting them on fourms... please help so we can help the others including myself.

[adamk]

QUESTION:
i have everything working. compiz flgrx xgl ATI BIG desktop on ubuntu gusty 7.1

ISSUE: When i maximize a window like firefox on monitor 1. it will -- expand HUGE on both monitors. I want it to only maximize on the monitor that the window on not mon1 and mon2.

I have read posts about ATI support for +xinerama" option for Xgl:
HOW DO i use it ?? Can someone please give a example of a working start up script? (in the ubuntu fourms this is really big issue for ATI dual monitor gusty users.

This is the only place i have found where people say they got it working.

I am big on writing how to docs and posting them on fourms... please help so we can help the others including myself.

In Feisty, you would have edited /usr/bin/startxgl.sh (or /usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh, depending on which howto you followed) and had it read something like:


#!/bin/sh
Xgl -fullscreen :1 -ac -accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:pbuffer +xinerama &
sleep 2
cookie="$(xauth -i nextract - :0 | cut -d ' ' -f 9)"
xauth -i add :1 . "$cookie"
dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session


Note the +xinerama on the Xgl line.

Since users no longer have to manually setup Xgl in Gutsy, I'm not quite sure where you'd make that change. In fact, based on the contents of the /etc/X11/Xsession.d/98xserver-xgl_start-server script, it appears that +xinerama is being used:


# This file is sourced by Xsession(5), not executed.

XGL_START=/usr/share/xserver-xgl/Xgl-session
XGL_DISPLAY=:1
XGL_OPTS="-nolisten tcp -fullscreen -br +xinerama"

if [ -n $XDG_CONFIG_HOME ] ; then
KILLSWITCH=$HOME/.config/xserver-xgl/disable
else
KILLSWITCH=$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/xserver-xgl/disable
fi

if [ -x $XGL_START ] && [ ! -e $KILLSWITCH ]; then
STARTUP="$XGL_START $XGL_DISPLAY $XGL_OPTS --execute $STARTUP"
fi


This implies that there's no extra configuration necessary under Gutsy.

[approaching236]

I am currently running Gutsy, compiz, and xgl. The problem still remains, and at least with the last release of the driver, i would go into the ati-config utility, and change the setup to dual head, not the big desktop. but when i re-installed the os from feisty to gutsy, compiz was not playing nice with that setup within the ati utility, and actually changed it to big desktop. (btw, i wasn't running compiz on feisty). so now, there is that script that i am looking at, that seems like it should do the trick, at least under feisty, but i am really afraid that it will break what i already have, because it has happened already more than once doing stuff like this.

[approaching236]

i was deleting some video codecs, and for some reason, my floating panel moved to the right of the left screen, and avant moved to the center of the left screen. i restarted x, and it was gone.


CRY