Multi monitor setups under X are fairly simple to achieve. My first attempt at doing this under XFree86 3 in early 1997 using 4 different video cards (2 PCI and 2 ISA) worked fine.
Xorg and Xinerama today makes the setup trivial, particularly with unbreakable X built into Ubuntu Gutsy. Click "Administration -> Screens and Graphics", and the config is all point and click. You should be using multi-monitor setups in no time. If you do choose to use proprietary drivers (such as Nvidia's drivers), they often include tools (such as Nvidia's "nvidia-settings" binary) that will build nview setups for you so your multi-monitor desktop will be controlled by Nvidia's proprietary drivers instead of Xorg and Xinerama. If you choose that path, the easiest way to set it up is to use 2 PCI-Express Nvidia cards in a capable motherboard (if you buy an SLI motherboard, be sure to disable SLI so that the two cards show up separately). I have done this setup for a client that required 4 monitors with hardware OpenGL support back in September last year, and it worked well enough for their needs. -Dan On Fri Mar 14 12:57 , Hamish Carpenter sent: >Hi, > >Some more experience... my experience has been that you will require either >identical video cards or video cards from different vendors (ie using >different drivers). > >My most recent experience has been with a PCI-E nvidia card and a PCI one. > >$ lspci | grep -i nvidia >01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV44 [Quadro NVS 285] >(rev a1) >05:04.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200] >(rev a1) > >I was using binary drivers and editing the xorg.conf. I can supply this if it >would be of use. This setup would work but when powering down the monitors so >save power, it would only wake one card back up correctly. > >I would love to see photos once setup. I had a play recently with xdmx but >found it too sluggish for everyday use (see: http://dmx.sourceforge.net/\). If >buying new hardware, a dual PCI-Ex16 motherboard would be a better option. > >Hamish > >Dave Hall wrote: >> Hi Richard, >> >> On Wed, 2008-03-12 at 17:38 -0700, Kennard Consulting wrote: >>> Dear All, >>> >>> I am seriously considering switching to Ubuntu for my Java-based >>> software development. >>> >>> My sticking point is I would want a 4 screen setup, so presumably I >>> need one of those motherboards with two video card slots and two video >>> cards. >>> >>> I'm not wrapped in the idea of spending a lot of time tweaking drivers >>> and recompiling kernels, so is there any company that specializes in >>> building and configuring Ubuntu desktops? Could anyone recommend one? >> >> I can't recommend anyone, but I will fill you in on my experience with >> multihead desktops. >> >> A few years ago I spent a couple of hours (ok maybe 3) getting Debian >> woody running with 3 15" CRTs. I used 1 AGP card and 2 PCI cards, all >> FOSS drivers. It worked well and didn't take much work on my part. >> >> Things have since moved on. If you want to spend a few hours learning >> something new, a couple of nvidia cards and the binary drivers should do >> the trick. >> >> I currently have an ATI card in my 3yo laptop (running Hardy alpha - >> 8.04) and I get nice wobbly fading windows and other GL effects. I have >> also used projectors (mostly) without incident with the FOSS drivers. >> >> Things have come a long way since Ubuntu was first released. >> >> Given that I am just down the road from you in Belgrave (whois is >> great), I am happy to try to be of assistance if you want to try to do >> it yourself. I am sure we can work something out. >> >> Cheers >> >> Dave > >-- >ubuntu-au mailing list >[email protected] >https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au >) -- ubuntu-au mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
