Re: Multihead in Debian/Debian-based distro and 64-bits?

[drbista <dr...@ep...>]

Thank you for your response.

On Friday 07 January 2005 7:55, you wrote:
> drbista wrote:
> >Dear friends:
> >
> >Many greetings! I have created a dualhead in FC1 (thanks to Zoli). But I
> > am trying to create one in Debian/Debian-based distro SimplyMEPIS. Before
> > proceeding I have a few questions:
> >
> >1) I have installed LTSP (ltsp.org) and three different terminals are
> > being used in the current machine (PIII 1GHz 256MB). Could the ltsp and
> > multihead coexist in the same machine? Anyone has experience?
>
> Probably no problem - just install both.  Problems happen only if
> both programs wants to use the same hardware, I believe that
> doesn't happen in this case.
>
> >2) I have seen instructions for debian multihead at
> >http://www.c3sl.ufpr.br/fourhead/howto-en.php but it does not mention of
> > the pci_isolate_device_feature.diff
> >(http://www.ltn.lv/~aivils/files/080_pci_isolate_device_feature.diff) as
> >stated in Aivils' site (http://www.ltn.lv/~aivils/eng-down.html). Any
> > idea?
>
> When using debian, make sure you get your X from the testing
> distribution. It makes sense to use the "testing" distro anyway,
> as "stable" is so old.  The xserver from "testing" have
> isolatedevice compiled in so you don't need to patch at all.
> You can use stuff like
>         Option          "IsolateDevice" "PCI:1:0:0"
> in XF86Config-4 - it just works.
>
> The screen section may need a
>         Option          "InitPrimary" "on"
> for xservers running on secondary graphichs cards (i.e. those cards
> not initialized by the bios.)
>

dpkg -l shows these two entries under xserver:

xserver-common 4.3.0.dfsg.1-6 files and utilities common to all X servers
xserver-xfree8 4.3.0.dfsg.1-6 the XFree86 X server

Does the above contain the isolatedevice feature built-in?


> >3) Whether it is necessary to make changes in the display manager? In my
> >current SimplyMEPIS (debian-based) distro, I am using kdm. When creating
> >multihead with FC1, I do remember that I made changes at gdm.conf under
> >[servers].
>
> You make changes to gdm.conf if you use gdm.
> When you use kdm, you make changes to the kdm config file instead.
> (Or xdm config files, for those who use xdm like I do.)

I read at the 
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/XFree-Local-multi-user-HOWTO/dm_conf-xdm_kdm.html 
this:

<QUOTE>

Debian uses:

    *

      /etc/kde3/kdm/Xservers for kdm 

you can make a backup copy of /etc/kde3/kdm/Xservers and make a symbolic link 
from /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers to /etc/kde3/kdm/Xservers, in order to use the 
same configuration file for xdm and kdm.

<UNQUOTE>

Does this still implies?

>
> >4) I have acquired with much difficulty a PCI VGA card from Tseng labs
> > (ET6000 22a26K650). Does anyone have any experience about this card
> > working with multihead?
>
> Not me.  I use a Matrox G550 AGP and a Radeon sapphire 9200 SE PCI.
> One problem here - the radeon xserver is unstable and hang itself
> (and sometimes the entire pc) occationally.  Bad hardware or bad driver,
> I don't know.  I got a radeon because they were supposed to work well
> in multihead configurations, even with 3D.  Unfortunately, it is older
> radeons that work well. . .

I am trying to test with the built-in i810 16MB AGP and a S3virge card.

>
> >5) May I have some contacts or sites which is peculiarly working on the
> > 64-bit linux multiheads? Of course I know my dear friend Zoli from
> > Hungary who has been active in FC3, but I want to know more who has been
> > involved in debian or debian-based distros.
>
> I'm trying to get 64-bit going (amd64) but I'm going slowly.  There is
> so many other things to do. :-/   I am currently stuck with 2.6.8.1
> because later kernels simply hang when X tries to initialize the
> PCI radeon.  [Not a ruby problem, it happens with plain 2.6.9 too. :-(  ]

Do you have any links in this connection?

>
> >Thanking you for your time and cooperation. May all of you be successful
> > in your missions, prosperous, free from sufferings, health, happy, and in
> > peace, always!
>
> Helge Hafting

Sichendra