[luau] nForce2, KM266 & Business Linux Desktops

[Hawaii Linux Institute]

Another point I want to mention about nForce2 and KM266 is the dual-X 
configuration.  Ever since  Microsoft Windows-XP "introduced" the dual 
monitor option, many estate planning lawyers now cannot live without 
using two monitors. However, the majority of computer users are not 
aware that the dual-X (or actually, multiple-X) features provided in 
Linux are actually much more powerful than in Win-XP.

Since RedHat does not automatically configure the X window to 
accommodate dual monitors, I am enclosing an example XF86Config file 
which was configured for nForce2 with the nVidia driver.  An actual code 
is better than a thousand words.  It should be self-explanatory.

If you are not using Win4Lin, you can comment out the "backingstore" 
option.  Also, as someone might notice, I have commented out the 
"Xinerama" option.  This allows each display (i.e., each monitor) to 
function as a separate desktop, but, as you might have guessed, it 
disallows one window from being extended to another.  (I commented out 
the Xinerama option b/c I am not an estate planning lawyer and do not 
need a big spreadsheet.)   If you need a big wide screen, just uncomment 
it (which will in effect turn a 1024 x 768 screen into a 2048 x 768 
screen; this is what Win-XP does).

KM266 does not have two video outputs as does nForce2, but it includes a 
TV-out.  Many high-end TVs nowadays have a resolution better than 800 x 
600.  The dual-X capability allows a Linux user to browse the web using 
your TV, while diligently doing your work.

I am sure everyone is aware of this rule when editting your XF86Config 
file--always make a backup copy.  If your X window won't start (b/c you 
made a typo or otherwise screwed up somewhere else), simply press 
cntl-alt-F1 and login as root to copy back your original XF86Config, 
then restart your X window.  This is one advantage that has made many 
former Windows users never go back to Windows.

The example XF86Config file (for RH9):

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "DualHead"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    Screen        1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
#    Option           "Xinerama"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "DevInputMice" "AlwaysCore"
EndSection

Section "Files"

    RgbPath      "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
    FontPath     "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "fbdevhw"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "record"
    Load  "freetype"
    Load  "type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "keyboard"
    Option        "XkbRules" "xfree86"
    Option        "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option        "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Mouse0"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier  "DevInputMice"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option        "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "PV1710"
    DisplaySize  340    270
    HorizSync    30.0 - 82.0
    VertRefresh  50.0 - 75.0
    Option        "NoLogo" "1"
    Option        "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor1"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "PV1710"
    DisplaySize  340    270
    HorizSync    30.0 - 82.0
    VertRefresh  50.0 - 75.0
    Option        "NoLogo" "1"
    Option        "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Videocard-0"
    Driver      "nvidia"
    BusID         "PCI:2:0:0"
    VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
    BoardName   "NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX (generic)"
    VideoRam    32768
    Option         "backingstore"
    Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Videocard-1"
    Driver      "nvidia"
    BusID        "PCI:2:0:0"
    VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
    BoardName   "NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX (generic)"
    VideoRam    32768
    Option "backingstore"
    Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Videocard-0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth     16
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     24
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     16
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    ViewPort 0 0
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen1"
    Device     "Videocard-1"
    Monitor    "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth     16
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     24
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     16
        Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    ViewPort 0 0
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
    Group        0
    Mode         0666
EndSection