Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

[jbuberel]

I just recently added the KDE4 repository to my existing 7.10 installation and downloaded/installed 'kde4-core'.

With KDE3, I have been successfully using a dual-monitor configuration (see attached xorg.conf file). The basic configuration is:

1920x1200 Dell FP on Left (primary)
1680x1050 ViewSonic FP on Right

But after rebooting and starting a KDE4 session, both desktops were rendered on the primary display. The secondary display was enabled (I could move the mouse pointer off the right-edge of the primary display and it would appear on the right-hand display), but contained no desktop imagery, wallpaper or task bar. I am NOT using the Xinerama extension.

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Wed Sep 12 14:30:30 PDT 2007

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier  "Default Layout"
  Screen   0 "Screen0" LeftOf "Screen1"
  Screen   1 "Screen1" 1920 0
  InputDevice  "Generic Keyboard"
  InputDevice  "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load     "glx"
  Load     "v4l"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"

# Removed Option "Xinerama" "1"
  Option    "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier  "Generic Keyboard"
  Driver    "kbd"
  Option    "CoreKeyboard"
  Option    "XkbRules" "xorg"
  Option    "XkbModel" "pc104"
  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  "Failsafe Monitor"
  VendorName  "Dell"
  ModelName   "Dell 2405FPW (Digital)"
  HorizSync   30.0 - 83.0
  VertRefresh  56.0 - 76.0
  Gamma     1
  ModeLine   "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "832x624@75" 57.3 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
  ModeLine   "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1280x960@75" 129.9 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1400x1050@60" 122.6 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1400x1050@75" 155.8 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1096 -hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
  ModeLine   "1792x1344@60" 204.8 1792 1920 2120 2448 1344 1345 1348 1394 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

 # 
  Identifier  "monitor1"
  VendorName  "Unknown"
  ModelName   "ViewSonic VX2025wm"
  HorizSync   30.0 - 82.0
  VertRefresh  50.0 - 75.0
  Gamma     1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier  "Monitor0"
  VendorName  "Unknown"
  ModelName   "DELL 2405FPW"
  HorizSync   30.0 - 81.0
  VertRefresh  56.0 - 76.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier  "Failsafe Device"
  Driver    "nvidia"
  VendorName  "NVIDIA"
  BoardName   "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 (generic)"
  Option    "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
  Option    "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
  Option    "NoLogo" "True"
  BusID     "PCI:3:0:0"
  Screen     0
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier  "Videocard0"
  Driver    "nvidia"
  VendorName  "NVIDIA Corporation"
  BoardName   "GeForce 7600 GT"
  BusID     "PCI:3:0:0"
  Screen     0
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier  "Videocard1"
  Driver    "nvidia"
  VendorName  "NVIDIA Corporation"
  BoardName   "GeForce 7600 GT"
  BusID     "PCI:3:0:0"
  Screen     1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier  "Default Screen"
  Device    "Failsafe Device"
  Monitor    "Failsafe Monitor"
  DefaultDepth  24
  SubSection  "Display"
    Depth   24
    Modes   "1600x1200@65" "1600x1200@60" 
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"

 # 
  Identifier  "screen1"
  Device    "Videocard0"
  Monitor    "Monitor1"
  DefaultDepth  24
  Option    "TwinView" "0"
  Option    "metamodes" "DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier  "Screen0"
  Device    "Videocard1"
  Monitor    "Monitor0"
  DefaultDepth  24
  Option    "TwinView" "0"
  Option    "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1920x1200_60 +0+0"
EndSection

Is this a known problem for KDE4 in the current (non-beta) release?

-jason

[sky]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Hi,

Yes, it was a known bug of the version, I don't know if it's still or not, you should retry it. I didn't yet but I was encountering exactly the same issue.

Cheers

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Just this morning I installed the KDE4v v4.0.2 updates. I then removed my ~/.kde4 directory, logged out and logged back in.

Although the situation appears to have improved slightly, KDE4 still does not render a desktop or taskbar on the secondary monitory. I know this is not necessarily a supported release (running KDE4 on Ubuntu 7.10), but is there an appropriate bug database that I can/should file this under?

-jason

[monte48lowes]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Can I recommend you take a test drive with Hardy? I am curious how well the new xorg 7.3 works in a real life situation such as yours.

Mike

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

I doubt it - this is my full time work-from-home workstation that has the dual monitor configuration. So I cannot risk that much downtime

If I were to boot with a Hardy test drive CD - would that be enough to verify whether or not it works?

PS I am now downloading the Kubuntu-KDE4 Hardy Alpha 6 ISO Image, and will let you know how that goes.

[sky]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Hi,

I've checked few days ago and it's still not working on mine, I hope it will be fixed soon

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Here are my results from testing with the Kubuntu + KDE4 Hardy Heron Alpha 6 for x64 CD-ROM:

1. The second display was almost kinda sorta recognized but displayed garbage.
2. The primary display was recognized and configured correctly
3. The System Settings -> Display control panel only recognized the primary display. I was unable to select the other display from the pull-down menu.

See screen shots:
http://www.buberel.org/kde1.png
http://www.buberel.org/kde2.png

Notes:
Video card is: nVidia Corporation G70 [GeForce 7600 GT] (rev a1)

If there is a proper bug database into which this should be submitted, please let me know.

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

I was just notified of and installed the recent kde4-kubunutu-7.10 update. After restarting the X-server and logging into a KDE4 session, the same problem persisted - KDE would not render my secondary desktop on the secondary physical display.

So I started the nvidia-settings tool and reconfigured the server. I didn't change anything substantial, but just enough to force nvidia-settings to regenerate the xorg.conf file.

I then logged out again and back in, but the problem was not resolved.

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Using the latest kde4 updates for Kubuntu 7.10 and an X11 configuration based on the nvidia TwinView feature, everything is now working well. It seems as though KDE4 does have issues with dual monitor configurations where each display is running a separate X11 server. But TwinView, which creates one large virtual desktop solves that problem.

After installing many of the accessory 'kde4' packages, everything looks great and seems to be working.

[jdogzilla]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Can you please post your xorg.conf file?

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

See my initial post earlier in this thread - that is the xorg.conf configuration that continues to be problematic. I have since been using the nvidia TwinView extension, which has solved the problem for me.

[jdogzilla]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

How did you use the nvidia Twinview extension? Isn't it through the xorg.conf file?

[jbuberel]

Re: Problems with KDE4 and dual monitor configuration

Yes, enabling TwinView is done via an option in the xorg.conf file. I used the nvidia-settings tool to create my xorg.conf. Here is the current, working version with TwinView enabled:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Thu Feb 14 18:21:33 PST 2008

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

Section "Files"
  RgbPath     "/usr/lib/X11/rgb"
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   "ViewSonic VX2025wm"
  HorizSync    30.0 - 82.0
  VertRefresh   50.0 - 75.0
  Option     "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier   "Videocard0"
  Driver     "nvidia"
  VendorName   "NVIDIA Corporation"
  BoardName   "GeForce 7600 GT"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier   "Screen0"
  Device     "Videocard0"
  Monitor    "Monitor0"
  DefaultDepth  24
  Option     "TwinView" "1"
  Option     "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
  Option     "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0, DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
  SubSection   "Display"
    Depth    24
  EndSubSection
EndSection