Linux Server Hacks, Volume Two

Hack #72. Get the Big Picture with Multiple Displays

Using two monitors with a single system gives you more room to work. The latest versions of the X Window System make this easier than ever before.

Many of the hacks in this book discuss how to better monitor system and process status, how to use the Web for basic computing infrastructure functions, and so on. This hack explains how to get enough display space so that you can actually see all of that information by attaching two video cards and two monitors to any Linux system and configuring the XFree86 or X.org X Window System for what is known as multi-head display.

Tip

Whenever possible, add a second graphics card of the same type as the one that is already in your system, or replace your existing graphics card with one that supports two monitors. This will enable you to use the same X server to control both graphics cards and their associated displays. Similarly, it's a good idea to add a second monitor of exactly the same size and with exactly the same maximum display resolution as your existing monitor. This will simplify synchronizing graphics modes across the two monitors (and in the X Window System configuration sections for each display).

This hack creates two separate displays, one on each of your monitors. An alternate approach would be to use the X Window System's Xinerama extension to create one single display that spans two monitors. (See http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Xinerama-HOWTO/ for more information about Xinerama.) ...