Howto Install 2 Screens with 2 Window Managers

[bluegroper]

Since others have asked, here's some brief notes.  (If any steps missing, I'll try to edit later).
There's no real magic involved, just the usual unix/linux ways of combining available tools together in a useful manner.
Of course there's other ways to do this, but this way seems easy and it works.
Kudos and thanks to Texstar for making this possible with PCLOS.

Setup computer with 2 graphics cards, or use mobo graphics plus 1 graphics card.
Connect and turn on both monitors before turning on system unit.  (Trap for newbies).
Fix any BIOS settings as needed.
Bootup PCLOS
Use lspci to get the PCI addresses of video inferfaces. (Needed later).

Install usual PCLOS with KDE
Install icewm (maybe also icewm-light) using synaptic
Use Control Center and make sure hardwares includes 2 videocards

Fix your /etc/X11/xorg.conf to configure 2 screens. (This is prolly the hardest part, so some patience needed.)
Don't forget to backup xorg.conf before any manual editing, otherwise disappointment is assured.  You have been warned.
Here's a copy of my xorg.conf. (I'm sure this code can be improved, but it works, so I don't bother to try and fix it.)
This file includes the hardware and PCI address details referenced above.
Adjust screen arrangement to suit personal taste.

Code: [Select]

# File generated by XFdrake (rev )

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout1"
    Screen "screen0"
    Screen "screen1" Leftof "screen0"
    #Option "Xinerama"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "DontZap" "False" # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Disable "dri"
    Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load "extmod"
    Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor0"
    VendorName "Plug'n Play"
    ModelName "L1954TQ"
    HorizSync 30-71
    VertRefresh 56-75
    
    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630
    
    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Plug'n Play"
    ModelName "L1954TQ"
    HorizSync 30-71
    VertRefresh 56-75
    
    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630
    
    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device0"
    VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 and later"
    Driver "nvidia"
    BusID "PCI:3:0:0"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 and later"
    Driver "nvidia"
    BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen0"
    Device "device0"
    Monitor "monitor0"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
EndSection

When I switch on this workstation, I like to automagically login to KDE and have usual PCLOS on Screen0.
Also launch Windoze XP maximized (aka FullScreen) on Screen1 using icewm.
Then I have KDE desktop on Screen0, and WindozeXP (launched by icewm) on Screen1, before touching any keys or rodent.
Before anyone asks, Yes you can cut 'n paste using the clipboard between screens.

Add this file to $HOME/.kde4/Autostart/icewmstart.sh (and make it executable).
This gets KDE to start the ice window manager on second display (ie second monitor).

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/bash
DISPLAY=":0.1" icewm-session &

Add this file to $HOME/.icewm/startup (and make it executable).
This gets icewm to autostart virtualized WinXP

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/bash
/usr/bin/VBoxManage startvm WinXP &

Disclaimer.
Use only with adult supervision.
I share these notes, and ask any interested reader to consider the terms of usual BSD licence.
Do with these notes whatever you feel like, but don't blame me if something breaks or your house burns down.

Enjoy.  

[djohnston]

Thanks, bluegroper.

[pags]

Thanks.
(Really, just a note so I can keep access to this thread ).

[menotu]

Thanks for taking the time and effort to provide the forum with this bluegroper - very kind.

[rubentje1991]

Thanks.
(Really, just a note so I can keep access to this thread ).

Saying thanks may also be a reason....  else you can just press the "notify"-button

[Just17]

Nice clear write-up!  Thank you. 

I have one question ..... is the use of IceWM only to keep the resources light, or is there some other reason?
Would there be some form of conflict if KDE was used on the second monitor?

[rubentje1991]

Would it be possible to assign one mouse to each monitor (so that it's possible that there are 2 mouses connected to the system)
=> that way, it would be possible to make some really cheap sem-multi-user system (or are there better solutions for that?)

[pags]

Thanks.
(Really, just a note so I can keep access to this thread ).

Saying thanks may also be a reason....  else you can just press the "notify"-button

Well, yes, that's true, too!  Thanks were thanks are due!

Would it be possible to assign one mouse to each monitor (so that it's possible that there are 2 mouses connected to the system)
=> that way, it would be possible to make some really cheap sem-multi-user system (or are there better solutions for that?)

Interesting thought...

[bluegroper]

I have one question ..... is the use of IceWM only to keep the resources light, or is there some other reason?
Would there be some form of conflict if KDE was used on the second monitor?

Yes exactly, to both your questions.
I don't think its possible to launch a second instance of KDE on second monitor.  At least, I looked, tried, and failed.
The choice of IceWM lightweight window manager is quite deliberate, since I only use it to launch virtualbox.  
For that task, I believe small and lightweight is prolly better than any resource hogging alternative.
YMMV's of course.

[The Chief]

Now I'm wondering if the second GUI (IceWM) is really necessary?  Once you have two displays running, can't KDE run a virtual machine and have it show on the second display?

Don't ask me how to do this...   

[Archie]

Thank you load, bluegroper. Your howto should be considered a good additin to the Knowledge Base.

Now, if someone can just point me to how I can Xinerama on my KDE-64 instead of just TwinView ... 

[bluegroper]

Please could somebuddy report this thread to a moderator and request it be moved to "Tips and tricks".
Attempting to report one's own post just throws an error.   

[djohnston]

Please could somebuddy report this thread to a moderator and request it be moved to "Tips and tricks".
Attempting to report one's own post just throws an error.  

That's funny.    Reported to moderators.

EDIT: Now it's moved. Thanks, Neal.