[mythtv-users] Suggestions for dual-headed configuration

[John Finlay]

Yan Seiner wrote:
> Allen Edwards wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 6:02 AM, Richard Hartmann 
>> <richih.mailinglist at gmail.com <mailto:richih.mailinglist at gmail.com>> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>     Hi all,
>>
>>     after reading what the wiki [1] has to offer wrt X.org setups, I am
>>     still unsure on how to set up my box.
>>
>>     I have one GFX card with two DVI outlets (my old card & CPU seem 
>> to be
>>     beefy enough, after all. Yay). I want to use one for a desktop 
>> and the
>>     other one for my TV. For now, the TV will not be connected at all
>>     times
>>     as I decided to get some experience with my desktop before
>>     purchasing a
>>     dedicated system. Ideally, I would want to switch the secondary (TV)
>>     display on and off on demand without quitting my desktop session.
>>
>>     Does this make sense? If yes, does anyone have a setup like this and
>>     is willing to share his/her xorg.conf?
>>
>>
>>     Richard
>>
>>
>> This is trivial and supported out of the box.  Just run 
>> nvidia-settings with the TV plugged in and enable the second monitor. 
>>  Set it up as a separate display and NOT twinview.  You will get 
>> exactly what you want. I have two machines set up that way right now. 
>>   The only issue you might have is setting the system up so that the 
>> monitor you want is the main one.  Worst case, you edit your 
>> xorg.conf file and put them in the right order after seeing how they 
>> come up.  Or, you might switch the cables and run nvidia-settings 
>> again.  Both of my set ups are CRT and TV.  One of my set ups is 
>> really a CRT and either a projector or a TV depending on which one is 
>> turned on.
>>
>> Don't let anyone tell you this is complicated and requires some 
>> exotic setup unless you want to do as Yan suggests and have an exotic 
>> setup but two monitors on one machine with a single mouse and 
>> keyboard is easy.  
> Yup, that's why I wanted to clarify the difference between dual-head 
> and multi-seat.  One is easy; the other is still on the bleeding edge, 
> although less so as time goes on.  There is a big push to get it working.
>
> One thing to keep in mind:  The nvidia driver turns off any output 
> that is not connected.  Since nvidia doesn't support randr 1.2+, there 
> is no way to turn on an output short of unloading the nvidia module, 
> plugging in the monitor, and reloading the module.
I believe that the ConnectedMonitor xorg.conf option will allow you to 
force an output on even if the monitor is not connected. Probably also 
have to use the UseDisplayDevice option to ensure correct mapping of 
output to monitor.

John