thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

jayasinghe · 2011-12-16 15:03:43

Hi!

I recently installed Arch Linux on my Thinkpad T510. So far I got a lot of stuff working. However, there are a few glitches with my docking solution. When I put the thinkpad to the dock I want to switch to the external screen (automatically) via xrandr.
Although xrandr lists the display with xrandr -q the screen stays blank. When I reboot the machine inside the dock or boot from the dock switching between the external display and the thinkpad lcd works flawlessly.
I used the nouveau driver without any further configuration in the xorg.conf configuration file. I connected the display via DisplayPort to the DisplayPort port of the dock. The display is Eizo FlexScan EV2313W.
Does anybody have an idea whats wrong here? I observerd the X11 log file while docking and undocking but could not find any hint.

Best Regards,
Robin

steve___ · 2011-12-16 20:09:42

I'm using an x220 with an ultrabase. I need to run X before switching displays. I also found I have to run multiple xrandr commands in order to get the display to switch every time.

## external monitor
xrandr --output HDMI2 --mode 1920x1200 --right-of LVDS1
sleep 1
xrandr --output LVDS1 --off
xrandr --output HDMI2 --mode 1920x1200

## laptop monitor
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1366x768 --right-of  HDMI2
sleep 1
xrandr --output HDMI2 --off
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1366x768

Last edited by steve___ (2011-12-16 20:12:11)

jayasinghe · 2011-12-16 20:53:25

Thanks! This sounds like it is worth a try. :-)

But what do you mean by "need to run X"?

steve___ wrote:

I need to run X before switching displays.

AFAIK xrandr does not work without a running X Server.

jayasinghe · 2011-12-16 21:29:00

OK, I tried the scripts as proposed. Adapted to my setup (LVDS-1 and DP-2) they worked as long as I booted with a docked Thinkpad. Pluging the running system (including X) into the dock did show the same results: the external screen did not react.

BTW: I trid an even more aggressive version of your proposal:

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output LVDS-1 --off
sleep 1
xrandr --output DP-2 --mode 1920x1080 --right-of LVDS-1

Result was the same as above. ;-)

steve___ · 2011-12-16 22:28:12

If I start X while docked, and then run the xrandr commands, X locks up. I have to undock, start X, dock, then I can run the xrandr commands.

Stebalien · 2011-12-16 23:31:48

@steve___: I thought you were asking a question not stating a fact.

--edit: Ignore vv--

steve___ wrote:

If I start X while docked, and then run the xrandr commands, X locks up. I have to undock, start X, dock, then I can run the xrandr commands.

Logs or it didn't happen (not that I doubt that it did, it's just that "X locks up" isn't very helpful).

Last edited by Stebalien (2011-12-16 23:41:42)

jayasinghe · 2011-12-26 19:11:21

Although I already excluded the BIOS of my Thinkpad it seems that the observed problem is related to BIOS issues. This bug (https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=37393) describes the same symptoms as I have and they were (accidently) solved by a BIOS update. Let's see whether the latest Thinkpad T510 BIOS will help here.

Best Regards,
Robin

Arch Linux

#1 2011-12-16 15:03:43

thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#2 2011-12-16 20:09:42

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#3 2011-12-16 20:53:25

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#4 2011-12-16 21:29:00

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#5 2011-12-16 22:28:12

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#6 2011-12-16 23:31:48

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

#7 2011-12-26 19:11:21

Re: thinkpad + dock + archlinux: external displays only after reboot

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