Configuring Dual Monitors in Ubuntu

The main HowTo for configuring dual-monitor support on Ubuntu is http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221174. I've included notes on how I configured dual monitor support below. I've also attached working /etc/X11/xorg.conf files.

Determine which chipset you have

Use the lspci command. If you grep for VGA that should isolate the line you want.

# lspci|grep VGA
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon 3100 Graphics

NVidia-based chipsets

  • You need to use the nvidia binary/"restricted" drivers. When I installed Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon it offered to install the restricted module for me. You can manually install the driver as follows:
    • sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-`uname -r` nvidia-glx-new
    • For systems older than Hardy Herron (8.04)
      • sudo nvidia-glx-config enable
    • For Hardy Herron (8.04) and newer systems
      • sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings
  • The easiest way to confirm dual-monitor support is to run 'sudo nvidia-settings'
    • Under monitors make sure to enable all monitors that you wish to use
    • There are two "modes" that you can use to get dual-monitor support working: TwinView (binary-only) and Xinerama (open-standard). TwinView is the recommend mode to use as it knows how to use the hardware acceleration of the NVidia card.
    • Once you've made the relevant changes, save and restart X11 (logout/login).

ATI-based chipsets

  • You need to use the ati binary/"restricted" drivers. When I installed Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon it offered to install the restricted module for me. You can manually install the driver as follows:
    • sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-`uname -r` fglrx-control
  • The easiest way to confirm dual-monitor support is to run 'sudo fireglcontrol'
    • Under Desktop Setup select 'Big Desktop Horizontal'.
    • You may also need to change the primary monitor.
    • Once you've made the relevant changes, save and restart X11 (logout/login).

I had trouble getting the fglrx driver in Ubuntu working, so I grabbed the latest drivers from ATI and built those:

  • sh ati-driver-installer-8.42.3-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/7.10
  • sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source_8.42.3-1_i386.deb fglrx-amdcccle_8.42.3-1_i386.deb xorg-driver-fglrx_8.42.3-1_i386.deb
  • cd /usr/src; sudo tar -xf fglrx.tar.bz2
  • sudo m-a build fglrx
  • sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-2.6.22-14-generic_8.42.3-1+2.6.22-14.46_i386.deb
  • sudo amdcccle
    • Under Display Manager-> Display Modes select "Big Desktop" mode.
    • Once you've made the relevant changes, save and restart X11 (logout/login).

-- DavidBartley - 07 Nov 2007

Topic attachments
I Attachment History Action Size Date Who Comment
Unknown file formatati xorg.conf.ati r1 manage 2.6 K 2007-11-09 - 16:14 DavidBartley xorg.conf for ati
Unknown file formatnvidia xorg.conf.nvidia r1 manage 4.5 K 2007-11-07 - 16:48 DavidBartley xorg.conf for nvidia
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Topic revision: r8 - 2009-10-21 - LawrenceFolland
 
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