[mythtv-users] Suggestions for dual-headed configuration

Allen Edwards allen.p.edwards at gmail.com
Sun Feb 22 15:30:43 UTC 2009


On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 7:22 AM, Yan Seiner <yan at seiner.com> 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.
>
> --Yan
>

I assumed he meant he want to turn the TV on and off as he said at the end
rather than disconnect it as he said at the beginning. If it is connected
and off, it will do what he wants.  If he physically pulls the cable, he
will have to restart X but that isn't that big a deal.  Likely he will be
leaving it connected but off and the card will still think the TV is there
in all likelhood.  It does depend on the TV.  All my monitors and my TV
(svideo) are detected on or off but my projector is not detected when off.
 This happens to be perfect for me so I am a happy camper.  If the projector
is on I can restart X and myth will be on the projector. If I restart X with
the projector off, the next morning when I turn on the TV myth will be
waiting for me.  The control LCD is always the main desktop when I turn it
on the next morning as it is typically off.

Allen
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