Lenovo Docking Station Dual monitors

[adamenity]

Hello, I recently acquired a Lenovo T420s and a docking station, however the DVI monitor does not appear to be recognized. Here's what I've found out so far:

• Windows recognizes it
• Apparently with Lenovo laptops the GPU is the only thing that can control the second monitor.
• I think I have to do something funny with the xorg.conf file but I don't really know that much about xorg.conf
• When I tried installing the nvidia drivers (NVIDIA-Linux-x85_64-290.10.run) for the GPU the x display doesn't work. Only when I remove the newly created xorg.conf file does it work as normal.
• I'm running linux mint with the xmonad window manager, but it's close enough to ubuntu and xorg.conf should be the same for both. I hear the ubuntu community is especially strong which is why I'm reaching out to you guys.

I know xorg.conf is a particular nasty place, but I would love to have 2 external displays running. Thanks!

[Perfect Storm]

Moved to Other OS/Distro Talk.

[adamenity]

I solved it and I figured I should leave it to be well documented for other people.

Problem: I have 2 22" 1920x1080 External displays that I want to use with my new Lenovo T420s. I bought a docking station partially so I could do this. I'm okay with not using my laptop display at my desk. I run linux mint with xmonad

Solution:

This should apply Ubuntu just as much as it applies to linux mint (hence why I posted it on this forum).

1. Go to your BIOS and change the display to be "discrete graphics" You'll notice that it's NVidia Optimus.
2. Restart your computer and go download Nvidia drivers for your machine. http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us Install it under root without an xserver (use Ctrl+alt+F1). I had to create some folders for some reason.
3. Futz with "sudo nvidia-settings". It's a half decent GUI which manages your xorg.conf file.
4. Don't try to use Twinview to put more than 2 monitors on a display, it took me about an hour to figure out you couldn't do this. There's a reason it's called Twinview.
5. I had trouble getting multiple x screens. I ended up with an awful solution as you'll see below.

Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, CRT: 1920x1080 +1920+0" #if docked.
# Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: +0+0" #if not docked.

This wouldn't be a problem if you didn't lose almost everything when you restarted your xserver. But, otherwise it's not too bad. If I go to Ctrl+Alt+F1 I get a terminal on my laptop only so I can do the modifications through that. It's not a perfect solution but it's a starting place.


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 290.10 (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-07.nvidia.com) Wed Nov 16 18:46:42 PST 2011

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 290.10 (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-07.nvidia.com) Wed Nov 16 18:47:40 PST 2011

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "HSP HF225"
HorizSync 24.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor2"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "HSP HF225"
HorizSync 24.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor1"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "HSP HF225"
HorizSync 24.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "NVS 4200M"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device2"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "NVS 4200M"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 2
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device1"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "NVS 4200M"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1360x768 +0+0; DFP-0: 1360x768_60_0 +0+0; DFP-0: 1024x768 +0+0; DFP-0: 1024x768i +0+0; DFP-0: 1024x768_75 +0+0; DFP-0: 1024x768_70 +0+0; DFP-0: 1024x768_60 +0+0; DFP-0: 960x600 +0+0; DFP-0: 960x540 +0+0; DFP-0: 840x525 +0+0; DFP-0: 840x525d70 +0+0; DFP-0: 840x525d60 +0+0; DFP-0: 840x525d60_0 +0+0; DFP-0: 832x624 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600_75 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600_72 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600_60 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600_56 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600d70 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600d65 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x600d60 +0+0; DFP-0: 800x512 +0+0; DFP-0: 720x450 +0+0; DFP-0: 720x400 +0+0; DFP-0: 700x525 +0+0; DFP-0: 700x525d75 +0+0; DFP-0: 700x525d70 +0+0; DFP-0: 700x525d60 +0+0; DFP-0: 680x384 +0+0; DFP-0: 680x384d60_0 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x512 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x512d75 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x512d60 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x480 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x480_75 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x480_73 +0+0; DFP-0: 640x480_60 +0+0"
# Removed Option "TwinView" "1"
# Removed Option "TwinView" "0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 @1600x900 +0 +0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 +0+0, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +1600+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 +0+0, DFP-3: 1920x1080 +0+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 +1920+180, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 +0+0, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, CRT: nvidia-auto-select +1600+0"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "1"
Option "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-3"
Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, CRT: 1920x1080 +1920+0" #if docked.
# Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: +0+0" #if not docked.

SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
# Removed Option "TwinView" "1"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: 1920x1080 +0+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
Identifier "Screen2"
Device "Device2"
Monitor "Monitor2"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-3"
Option "TwinView" "0"
Option "metamodes" "DFP-3: 1920x1080 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
# Removed Option "TwinView" "1"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "CRT: 1920x1080 +0+0"
# Removed Option "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
Identifier "Screen1"
Device "Device1"
Monitor "Monitor1"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "1"
Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1600x900 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

[stephanunc]

Hi, Thank you for your post. I have a T430 and I am having difficulty configuring.

When I open Nvidia X Server Settings it says that I am not running Nvidia config and I need to login as root and do nvidia-xconfig...I do this but get no results.

I changed the Bios settings to "discrete graphics" - any idea why this is called this?

Also, would you be able to understand the following output?

Since I'm using the docking station, is the Intel chip on that?

beeze@beeze-ThinkPad-T430:~$ lspci -v |grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Ivy Bridge Graphics Controller (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation Device 0def (rev ff) (prog-if ff)

Thanks!

[Forge64]

I changed the Bios settings to "discrete graphics" - any idea why this is called this?

Hi. I'm not in the same boat, because my Optimus only allows Optimus or Intel, but I can answer your question. Recent laptops with Nvidia graphics have been using a fairly clever tech called Optimus. This is generally a good thing, it lets the system power off the NV GPU when not in use, but it kicks back on pretty seamlessly when needed. It also allows the laptop to drive a lot of displays, since the Intel can drive the integrated panel plus two displays, plus the Nvidia can do another three displays (this is in theory, you may not have enough outputs to really use them all).

Unfortunately, Optimus was designed for Windows, and in Windows, the graphics drivers can interact more and in proprietary ways. Under Linux, Optimus has been kind of a bummer.

For instance, when I'm booted into Windows, my internal panel and my external monitor on my docking station both work. Under Linux, the external monitor stays dark, since it's connected to the nvidia GPU. I've worked lots of fun tricks so far, but Optimus still isn't quite right. Running everything on the Nvidia GPU, as you two are, is probably the best solution so far.