Setting up a Multihead configuration

funkaddict · 2018-11-28 14:59:47

Hey there,

at my office I have a Dell desktop computer with a NVIDIA Corporation GM107GL [Quadro K620] (rev a2), graphics card. It has a display port as well as an dvi port. To the display port I have connected a Dell U2414H screen, with another screen of the same type connected via daisey-chaining. Both work perfectly right out of the box, when I installed Arch (and XFCE) a couple of weeks ago.
However, I am trying to get also a third screen running, by connecting it to the dvi port. This works when I am in XFCE. But after shutting down, and rebooting. No screen are showing any information anymore. I see grub on the the screens connected via displayport. But after that the screens say that there is no input signal. So I have to disconnect the 3rd screen from the dvi port, to start the machine properly again. After the third screen beeing disconnected everything on the two primary screens (display port) look like it did before connecting the 3rd screen.

I assume that I have to configure /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf as indicated in the wiki https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Mu … te_screens but there is no such file in my xorg directory:

$ ls /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
00-keyboard.conf

Do I have to create the file first?

Last edited by funkaddict (2018-11-28 15:02:20)

Lone_Wolf · 2018-11-28 16:27:07

Yes, that file needs to be created by you.

You may want to use an xrandr setup instead of a static xorg conf file though.
xrandr commands tend to be easier to troubleshoot / maintain then xorg conf files.
Automating the xrandr commands through a startup script is also easy.

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2018-11-28 16:27:30)

funkaddict · 2018-11-29 09:43:04

Ok, thank you. I have tried to configure /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf but I think I have messed things a little bit up:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf
---
xrandr --output DVI-I-1 --auto --rotate right --output DP-1-8 --auto --left-of DVI-I-1 --output DP-1-1 --auto --left-of DP-1-8

This did not work, as it failed to start the xserver. So I changed it to:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "DP-1-1"
    Option      "Primary" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "DP-1-8"
    Option      "RightOf" "DP-1-1"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier "DVI-I-1"
  Option "RightOf" "DP-1-8"
  Option "Rotate" "Right"
EndSection

But now the same as initially happens. As soon I have the third screen via dvi plugged in, none of the screens get any input signal any more after showing the grub boot menu. Where is my mistake here?

seth · 2018-11-29 15:03:25

Is the failure on the console or the X11 display server?
Do you boot straight into a graphical.target (display manager or startx)? Which?
What if you boot the multi-user.target? https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … _boot_into

funkaddict · 2018-11-30 08:58:14

Thank you for advice,

seth wrote:

Is the failure on the console or the X11 display server?

From my beginner knowledge I´d assume it is the console

seth wrote:

Do you boot straight into a graphical.target (display manager or startx)? Which?

Usually when I start the system, it shows grub, after this it shows a screen with two lines reading

starting version 239
/dev/sdx2: clean...

after this, it usually shows the console login: <- This is the point, where the screens get no input anymore from the machine, if the 3rd screen is plugged in.

Arch Linux 4.19-arch1-1-Arch (tty)
name login:

Here I login with my username and pw. After this I initialize an x-session manually:

startx

seth wrote:

What if you boot the multi-user.target? https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … _boot_into

I did that:

$ systemctl set-default multi-user.target

Which did not change anything.

Last edited by funkaddict (2018-11-30 08:58:37)

Gosi · 2018-11-30 11:57:29

I think you are running your graphics card outside its specifications:

from http://www.pny.eu/consumer/explore-all- … uadro-k620

Max Simultaneous Displays   2 Direct
                            4 DP 1.2 Multi-Stream

I read this as either 2 direct or 4 via DP

Try connect all displays via DP if possible.

seth · 2018-11-30 13:48:18

It's the console, you're not booting a graphical target.
Assuming that's not the problem - can you boot a text console?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … ramebuffer

If so: what are the native resolutions of all three outputs?
Can you login and startx blindly? Does that impact the output?

funkaddict · 2018-11-30 15:05:20

Gosi wrote:

I think you are running your graphics card outside its specifications:
from http://www.pny.eu/consumer/explore-all- … uadro-k620
Max Simultaneous Displays   2 Direct
                            4 DP 1.2 Multi-Stream
I read this as either 2 direct or 4 via DP
Try connect all displays via DP if possible.

Thank you, but this is not likely to be the reason for this issue, as this configuration (2 displays on the display port via daisey chaining and one via dvi) has been working already before, when I was running manjaro. And as written in the first post, the configuration works but only when I plug in the third screen after booting up the system.

seth wrote:

It's the console, you're not booting a graphical target.
Assuming that's not the problem - can you boot a text console?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … ramebuffer

I changed the /etc/default/grub by uncommenting

GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT=console

which did not change anything.

seth wrote:

If so: what are the native resolutions of all three outputs?

When I am in xorg, so running xfce and plugging in the 3rd screen now:

$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3840 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
DP-1-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DVI-I-1 connected 1280x1024+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 376mm x 301mm
   1280x1024     60.02*+  75.02  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1280x800      59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   700x525       74.76    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       75.02    60.02  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    75.00    72.81    75.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       70.08  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       75.00  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1-8 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 527mm x 296mm
   1920x1080     60.00*+  59.96    50.00    59.94    59.93  
   1920x1200     59.95  
   1600x1200     65.00    60.00  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1400x1050     74.76    59.98  
   1600x900      59.95    60.00    59.82  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    60.00    50.00    59.94    59.74  
   1024x768      75.05    60.04    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   960x720       75.00    60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   720x576       50.00  
   700x525       74.76    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x512       75.02    60.02  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    75.00    72.81    75.00    60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       70.08  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       75.00  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
DP-1-1-1 connected 1920x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 527mm x 296mm
   1920x1080     60.00*+  59.96    50.00    59.94    59.93  
   1920x1200     59.95  
   1600x1200     65.00    60.00  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1400x1050     74.76    59.98  
   1600x900      59.95    60.00    59.82  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    60.00    50.00    59.94    59.74  
   1024x768      75.05    60.04    75.03    70.07    60.00  
   960x720       75.00    60.00  
   928x696       75.00    60.05  
   896x672       75.05    60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   832x624       74.55  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       75.00    70.00    65.00    60.00    72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   720x576       50.00  
   700x525       74.76    59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x512       75.02    60.02  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    75.00    72.81    75.00    60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   720x400       70.08  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       75.00  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       75.03    70.07    60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   416x312       74.66  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       72.19    75.12    60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       72.81    75.00    60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
DP-1-1-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

seth wrote:

Can you login and startx blindly? Does that impact the output?

I have tried this already before various times which didn´ t work out for me. I know my username and password really by heart. So I think there was no error due to mistyping.

seth · 2018-11-30 15:34:55

Did you https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … ation_file after altering /etc/default/grub?
Can you ssh into the booted machine?

funkaddict · 2018-12-03 08:10:40

Sorry for the late reply

seth wrote:

Did you https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … ation_file after altering /etc/default/grub?

I did so.

seth wrote:

Can you ssh into the booted machine?

I will bring my laptop with me tomorrow and try that. What should i look for after logging in via ssh? The output of xrandr?

What really bothers me is the fact that when I was running manjaro a few months back everything ran smooth and out of the box. So there must be a configuration file which I have overlooked. I think I have configurated the screens in manjaro using the gui. Thus, the gui based configuration in manjaro must do something which I haven´ t done yet in Arch but I don´ t know what. Maybe I overlooked something in post #3? Is there any additional config file to be altered?
I remember, when I was running the 3 head setup in manjaro the 3rd screen (dvi) was the first screen to show something. I am not quite sure if the dvi port was just faster than the display port or if the dvi port is the primary port by default.
Edit: But of course in manjaro this was different because I did not boot into the console but directly into x.

Last edited by funkaddict (2018-12-03 08:16:57)

seth · 2018-12-03 08:55:32

First check whether you can ping and login.
Then dmesg, journalctl -b
Finally try to startx and watch out for errors.

You're not gettting a console output so it's certainly not related to the xorg config.
Though this might be the difference to manjaro - did you startx there as well or did you boot straight into a graphical target?

funkaddict · 2018-12-03 11:06:31

seth wrote:

Though this might be the difference to manjaro - did you startx there as well or did you boot straight into a graphical target?

My bad, I did not expressed this above correctly. I did not startx I did boot straight into xfce4.

I will ssh into the machine tomorrow and report back after doing so.

Last edited by funkaddict (2018-12-03 11:06:55)

seth · 2018-12-03 14:11:16

You can also try booting a graphical target (X11) on the Arch installation. X11 will take control over the outputs and that may actually be the key.
Control over the default console output ("monitor") sucks, I never figured a way to do that :-(

Arch Linux

#1 2018-11-28 14:59:47

Setting up a Multihead configuration

#2 2018-11-28 16:27:07

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#3 2018-11-29 09:43:04

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#4 2018-11-29 15:03:25

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#5 2018-11-30 08:58:14

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#6 2018-11-30 11:57:29

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#7 2018-11-30 13:48:18

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#8 2018-11-30 15:05:20

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#9 2018-11-30 15:34:55

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#10 2018-12-03 08:10:40

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#11 2018-12-03 08:55:32

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#12 2018-12-03 11:06:31

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

#13 2018-12-03 14:11:16

Re: Setting up a Multihead configuration

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