6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

[zer0efx]

Did what was suggested, and Twinview is grayed out when i sudo nvidia-settings. This was why I went with the route you had had explained in this thread. I'll see if I can figure this out.

So after some more attempts and not getting it to work, I think this is the right thread for me as my 1 video card actually displays as 2 because it has 2 GPUs.

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "G92-450"
    BusID          "PCI:4:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "G92-450"
    BusID          "PCI:3:0:0"
EndSection

I just got my third monitor, so now I have:
2x Monitors (DVI-D)
1x Monitor HDMI
All plugged into 1 video card.

When I tried the nvidia-settings, I was only able to get my setup working with xinerama activated but no matter what I did, Twinview is always grayed out. I had envy installed previously and all my drivers are up to date, so I think after lots of trial and errors, I need to configure my system somewhat like yours.

[pdub]

Thanks d2globalinc, your post was very helpful. I setup 3x24" monitors with Compiz, fakexinerama and xserver-xgl.

Here is a link to a video I created:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpbgPyEY1Ck

Here is a copy of my xorg.conf. See the comments section for details.

# This xorg.conf file is for 3 24" widescreen monitors with a resolution of 1920x1200
# Each monitor is rotated 90 degrees to the left
# The primary videocard is a NVIDIA 8800GT with Dual DVI mapped to Videocard0 and Videocard1
# The secondary videocard is a NVIDIA 9500 GT with (1)DVI port and (1)VGA port with the DVI mapped to Videocard2
# Monitor0 is at the far left, Monitor1 in the center and Monitor2 is at the far right
#
# xserver-xgl is necessary for Compiz to function properly
#
# The screen layout can also be configured in CompizConfig Settings Manager -> General Options -> Display Settings
# Unselect Detect outputs and configure Outputs as follows
#
# 1200x1920+0+0
# 1200x1920+1200+0
# 1200x1920+2400+0


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    Screen      2  "Screen2" RightOf "Screen1"
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
    Option 	   "AIGLX" "true"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "XGL" "true"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
    FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/util"
    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	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/encodings"
    FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
EndSection

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

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "1"
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     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Acer"
    ModelName      "Acer B243W"
    HorizSync       31.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Gamma           1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Acer"
    ModelName      "Acer B243W"
    HorizSync       31.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Gamma           1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor2"
    VendorName     "Acer"
    ModelName      "Acer B243W"
    HorizSync       31.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Gamma           1
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
    Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
    Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard2"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9500 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:2:0:0"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
    Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
    Screen	    0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Videocard0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Rotate" "Left"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Videocard1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Rotate" "Left"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
    Option         "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen2"
    Device         "Videocard2"
    Monitor        "Monitor2"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Rotate" "Left"
    Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
    Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

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

[d2globalinc]

pdub,

NICE SETUP!! - I have a friend who did the exact same thing! - One thing he did a little different tho was use compiz fusion's custom display settings and take the left and right monitors and split them in 1/2 vertically - so he could maximize 2 windows at a time per monitor on the left and right ones, then he left the center one the full dimensions and uses that one mostly for browsing websites so he doesn't have to scroll as much.. Just an idea! But I really like the setup!

Glad we could help out here!

Shane Menshik
D2 GLOBAL INC
http://www.d2global.com

[pdub]

Yes, that's the plan here as well. I had it setup with right most screen split in half. Lots of flexibility.

One thing I am noticing is how much heat 3 24" monitors gives off. Feels like I am in a tanning booth.

Thanks Again!

[pdub]

After further testing, I noticed that while running VMware Workstation 6.5 my XP and Vista virtual machines that are set to use 3D acceleration fail to run properly. To fix this I simply unchecked 3D acceleration for these machines under Virtual Machine Settings - Display. The virtual machines still run fine as I am not using any 3D effects anyway. It looks like xserver-xgl caused this issue as Direct Rendering is disabled.

The second thing is that fakexinerama is not needed for my basic 3 monitor setup. Specifying the monitor outputs in CompizConfig Settings Manager -> General Options -> Display Settings is all that is needed.

[AvatarKava]

Any strategies for how to implement this on the upcoming release of Intrepid (8.10), as they've obsoleted xserver-xgl and removed it from the repositories?

[d2globalinc]

AvatarKava,

Looking into this option- Have a few ideas but nothing certain yet.. I'll be sure to come up with something once intrepid is released and drivers working normally.

Shane Menshik
D2 GLOBAL INC
http://www.d2global.com

[d2globalinc]

Something I found with xserver-xgl that people in this thread might be intrested in... If you have issues with xserver-xgl using the correct xinerama settings and with the gnome-panel spanning all your monitors -its due to a bug in xserver-xgl - Here is how to fix:

open terminal

sudo nano -w /usr/share/xserver-xgl/Xgl-session

then find the line that has this (towards end of the file)

xmodmap -e "keycode 22 = BackSpace"

and comment it out with a # so it looks like this

#xmodmap -e "keycode 22 = BackSpace"

save the file - reboot your machine and your gnome panel should no longer span all monitors and xserver-xgl should listen to your monitor resolutions.

Hope that helps others!

Shane Menshik
D2 GLOBAL INC
http://www.d2global.com

[AvatarKava]

Shane,

Sounds great - I'm trying a bunch of setups myself and will report back if I find anything.

ATM (as would be expected from its performance with Hardy), Xinerama with three separate X-sessions is beating up even my top-of-the-line SLI rig, so it's beyond even wanting the prettiness of Compiz at this point.

~ Mike Burke

[d2globalinc]

Mike,

I was going to look at running a separate xserver ontop of the default xorg one in full screen and then seeing if i could get direct 3d acceleration with it - similar to how xserver-xgl loads up on top of xorg now. I was thinking perhaps its possible to trick the xserver this way.. Its a long shot I know - but who knows - sometimes those things work

Thanks,

Shane Menshik
D2 GLOBAL INC
www.d2global.com