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Thread: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

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  1. #1
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    Aug 2008
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    Thumbs down 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! 04/19/2009 - NEW VIDEO OF THIS SYSTEM WITH JAUNTY JACKALOPE, KDE 4.2.2, XGL, AND COMPIZ FUSION EFFECTS POSTED:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhMErNsEoZw

    I will be starting a new thread soon with complete HowTO and information!




    ** ORIGINAL POST BELOW **

    FIRST OF ALL! Thanks to the community for the support to make this happen! I did a lot of surfing and reading on this project!

    video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DWzuIreDGA

    original build pics: http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstation/

    Quick Notes:
    This took some testing and tinkering but it's now working with xserver-xgl installed. If we used 3x twinview setups and disabled xinerama - it would create 3 seperate x sessions - but if we used xinerama in that setup it wouldn't give us compiz effects - I could span glxgears across all 6 monitors without a problem - but compiz wouldnt' work.. Sooo - we had to use xserver-xgl with this setup in order to get it to work with compiz.

    More Info:
    This was a quick video I made of our latest production workstation - The firefox windows come up quickly even with a mp3 playing with visualization on one screen... Which is nice.. but then you realize its really impressive once you see whats going on in the background..

    Running Intel quad core cpu with 3x nvidia 8800GTX's - its a 3way sli motherboard but the cards are all running independently. (Complete specs are listed below). Had to use xserver-xgl to get it working correctly. Each vertical row of monitors (3) is running in a twinview configuration- then I use xinerama to combine those 3 virtual monitors together. Tie it all together with another Fake xinerama patch that forces windows to maximize to each monitor and you have once nice setup..

    I'll post more videos and blog a breakdown of the workstation later - we documented the workstation build with photos so it should make for a good write-up.

    If anyone is interested - we do custom build and sell these workstations - and they can run windows applications using virtual solutions as well.

    Complete Specs of system:
    --- XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i (3way) SLI Intel Motherboard
    --- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M
    --- ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
    --- 3x (yes thats 3 of these monsters) - XFX PVT80FSHF9 GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
    --- Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
    --- 8 GIGABYTES OF RAM - OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK
    --- (Memory above is not what is pictured in the build pics - we received wrong set originally - but replaced shortly after)
    --- COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-C50-EMBA-D2 ATX Form Factor 12V V2.3 / SSI standard EPS 12V V2.92 1250W Power Supply
    ---- ALSO USING 4x 10K RPM 36.6GB RAPTOR DRIVES IN RAID 0+1 CONFIGURATION (Most of our storage is on network server so we just need storage on the workstation for apps).
    ---- External USB 2.0 LG SLIM DVD WRITER
    ---- 6x DELL Ultrasharp 2009W 20" LCD Monitors
    ---- 3x Ergotron DS100 Vertical Stands


    Pic's of the build can be found here: http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstation/

    UPDATE ( 11/02/2008 ) : Added the following pictures for the 3x Ergotron DS100 Vertical Stands used to mount the monitors in this configuration.
    (pardon the dust! I don't have to go back there much!)
    http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstati...ergotron_1.jpg
    http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstati...ergotron_2.jpg
    http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstati...ergotron_3.jpg
    http://www.d2global.com/d2gworkstati...ergotron_4.jpg

    UPDATE ( 11/02/2008 ) : So there is no confusion - these NVIDIA graphics cards are setup in NON-SLI mode. SLI mode at this time only allows you to power a single DVI output. In order to power all 6 monitors using all of the DVI outputs from the cards - the setup is configured in NON-SLI mode - with a single graphics card dedicated to two monitors each.

    UPDATE ( 12/11/2008 ) : ADDED IMAGE - Showing windows apps (Adobe CS4 Flash, Fireworks, Word 2003, Excel 2003, IE, Firefox for Windows) w/ Ubuntu Apps (Swiftweasel, etc)

    UPDATE ( 04/14/2009 ) : ADDED LINK TO NEW VIDEO OF THIS SYSTEM WITH JAUNTY JACKALOPE 64Bit w/ KDE 4.2.2, XGL, AND COMPIZ FUSION EFFECTS! NEW THREAD WITH COMPLETE HOWTO COMING SOON!

    Thanks!

    Shane Menshik
    D2 GLOBAL INC
    http://www.d2global.com

    "You see things; and you say Why?? But I dream things that never were; and I say Why not?!" - George Bernard Shaw
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by d2globalinc; April 15th, 2009 at 12:24 AM. Reason: Updated SLI Info, Ergotron Stands, and quote.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    42

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    good job. that looks, might i say, pretty ******* awesome.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    465

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    Nice computer, but you could have saved a ton if you just got 3 Geforce 8800GTs, the GTXs are not too good for new builds because they haven't dropped in price barely at all; a 8800GT will almost always match or outperform a 8800GTX.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    198

    Smile Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    I went with the 8800GTX over the GT's because at the time of purchase (Back in Feb) - the 8800GTX's and ULTRA's were the only cards to support the 3way SLI mode. As far as I've read - the 8800GT's still don't support the 3way SLI - however the newer 9800GT's that are out now do..

    Of course for what I'm using it for right now - it doesn't matter - but I suppose i could always put the tower on casters and wheel it out to the living-room and hook it up to power a single HD LCD TV when i wanted to play a game with all that GPU power

    - D2G

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    /dev/random
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    147

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    awesome.
    Have a peek at some of my programs at http://houbysoft.com/
    CLI / GUI linux advanced calculator : http://houbysoft.com/hc/
    http://houbysoft.com/humor/

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Maryland
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    349
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    Thats just beautiful! Great work man...

  7. #7
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    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    Simply awesome... Swordfish anyone

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    2

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    @d2globalinc:

    Thank you, great. I look forward to read your HowTo soon

    Now i have a litte different system.
    ASUS Striker 2 Extreme with 3 ASUS GF8800GTS G92 512MB with raid5 for the system, and raid-1 for data.

    Greets, Speedy

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
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    15

    Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    Would it be possible to see your xorg.conf? I have been pulling my hair out trying to get just 3 working.

    thanks in advance
    kai

  10. #10
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    Thumbs down Re: 6 Monitors - Ubuntu 8.04 - Compiz Fusion - XGL NVIDIA Working! (Video Included)

    Sure! - I've been wanting to get back to this and do a HOWTO - but I'll post what I can for now and my xorg.conf - I had to build this file (xorg.conf) myself since nvidia's control panel doesn't really take in account more than 2 monitors ... - When starting in on this project I recommend you start with getting one twinview working - then move onto the next, etc - saving your xorg.conf every-time you make a change so you can see exactly the results. I think I had about 30+ xorg.conf backup's that i had various notes about when i was finished. I think what the solution would be for a 3 monitor setup would be to create 1 twinview setup with two monitors and 1 independent monitor setup. Once you had that configured you could go the same route i did and enable xinerama along with installing xserver-xgl and i bet it would span all 3 monitors with 3d effects enabled... Remember - my setup is seen as 3 monitors - but again i had to enable twinview on them in order to get the 3d acceleration enabled on that card. so for you - 1 twinview, 1 standalone, enable xinerama and you should be able to use all 3 / drag windows across, etc - but compiz may not work - if not then try xserver-xgl and see if that works across all 3

    Here are some more details -

    - First - start with latest nvidia drivers - I installed EnvyNG from the package manager, then used that to install the latest drivers. after reboot you can start with your first twinview setup and go from there - don't try to do it all at once if you haven't before - it will confuse the hell outa ya! - To keep it simple I'm using all the same monitors at the same resolution - I wouldn't want to add even more complexity with various resolutions per monitor - but I'm sure if there is a will there is a way...

    <( If anyone knows how to get around any of the limitations below or to do this a different way let me know! )>

    #1 - I had to pair up the two DVI interfaces on each card to make 3 separate twinview arrangements. To keep it organized I connected one top row monitor and one bottom row monitor to each of my 3 dual DVI graphics cards. So at this point you can look at my arrangement as having 3 seperate twinview virtual monitors comprised of 2 monitors each.

    I tried about every combination possible to get to this point - Here were some of my results and why I ended up with this configuration:

    #1a - Each Monitor Individually
    - With this configuration you could have seperate X screens per monitor - but in order to combine the screens into a virtual desktop you had to use Xinerama to do it. Once you enabled Xinerama - say goodbye to compiz-fusion effects - it has something to do with nvidia's drivers and composite - I dont know the technical reasons - but once you enabled Xinerama with each monitor configured individually your compiz-fusion effects will no longer work (it wont load). The funny thing is I could load up the gears Gl test and span it across all 6 monitors and it was VERY smooth and hardware rendering was working. But - no compiz-fusion = NO EYE CANDY = no thanks!

    #2 Once all 3 twinview setups were working - without xinerama enabled these acted like 3 separate x Screens.. Compiz was working on each individually but you of course couldn't drag windows across the 3 sections and they acted independently - again - no thanks! I believe the next hangup I had was that if again I enabled xinerama - it would disable compiz effects..

    #3 My final solution was a combination of the 3 twinview configurations, enable xinerama, and installing xserver-xgl from the package manager. Once these things were in place i had one large virtual screen with 3D enabled across all 6 monitors! I heard that there were issues with xserver-xgl but I haven't had any issues and I've been running on this for a few weeks now.. I will revisit the original xserver-xorg configuration again in the future to see if I can get it to work - but the limitation seems to be that if I enable xinerama with it - compiz-fusion will no longer work.. and without enabling xinerama - i was stuck with 3 separate xscreens! (so if i can find a solution to merge the 3 twinview screens without using xinerama - I'm all for it!).

    - without xserver-xgl - 3d graphics would not span all 6 monitors because i believe they get disabled with the xinerama again..

    #4 - the final issue had to do with the fact that now that i had all 6 monitors working as one - xserver-xgl now decided that when i maximize a window - it needs to maximize across all 6 monitors! I looked for various options and the one i came up with was a hack of the xinerama library itself - (do a search on google for fake xinerama) - but.. I now see that compiz-fusion has its own settings for settings monitor arrangements and you can manually enter them. The benefit of the fake xinerama deal was that it also allowed the bootup / login screen to show up in one monitor instead of expanded across all 6 -

    #5 - there are still some quirks - some windows just don't seem to want to listen to compiz-fusion or the fake xinerama layout information - for example GKSU window will show up right smack in the middle of the virtual 6 monitor screen - so it shows up inbetween the middle top and middle bottom monitors - split across them.. ggrrr. - same with the logout selection display..

    Ok - there is a lot of information here - and more to post later in a formal howto - Let me know if you have any questions!



    Shane Menshik
    D2 GLOBAL INC.


    xorg.conf for 6 monitor setup - using 3 x nvidia cards with 6 20" LCD monitors at 1680x1050 60hz - creates 3 virtual monitors using twinview then xinerama to combine them together - then used xserver-xgl ontop of it all to enable compiz - it creates one BIG virtual monitor across all 6 monitors..

    I'm sure there are some things in here that can be removed - but I hadn't had time to clean this up - and if it aint broke - don't fix it

    Code:
    # xorg.conf file modifications by Shane Menshik - D2 GLOBAL INC
    # LAST UPDATED 08-25-2008
    
    
    Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier     "Layout0"
        Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
        Screen      1  "Screen1" LeftOf "Screen0"
        Screen      2  "Screen2" RightOf "Screen0"
        InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
        InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
        Option 	   "AIGLX" "true"
        Option	   "RenderAccel" "true"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XGL" "true"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Files"
        RgbPath         "/etc/X11/rgb"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/util"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
        FontPath	    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/encodings"
        FontPath	    "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Module"
        Load	   "dri"
        Load           "dbe"
        Load           "extmod"
        Load           "type1"
        Load           "freetype"
        Load           "glx"
    EndSection
    
    Section "ServerFlags"
        Option         "Xinerama" "1"
    EndSection
    
    Section "InputDevice"
        # generated from default
        Identifier     "Mouse0"
        Driver         "mouse"
        Option         "Protocol" "auto"
        Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    #    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
        Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
        Option	   "CorePointer"
    EndSection
    
    Section "InputDevice"
        # generated from default
        Identifier     "Keyboard0"
        Driver         "kbd"
        Option	   "XkbRules"	"xorg"
        Option	   "XkbModel"	"pc105"
        Option	   "XkbLayout"	"us"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor0"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor1"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor2"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor3"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor4"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Monitor"
    
        # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
        Identifier     "Monitor5"
        VendorName     "Unknown"
        ModelName      "DELL 2009W"
        HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
        Option         "DPMS"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard0"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:3:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard1"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:4:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard2"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:7:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard3"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:4:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
        Screen          1
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard4"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:3:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
        Screen          0
    EndSection
    
    Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Videocard5"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce 8800 GTX"
        BusID          "PCI:7:0:0"
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
        Option	   "NoLogo" "true"
        Option	   "backingstore" "true"
        Screen          1
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen0"
        Device         "Videocard0"
        Monitor        "Monitor0"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "1"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1680x1050_60 +0+1050, DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen1"
        Device         "Videocard1"
        Monitor        "Monitor1"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "1"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1680x1050_60 +0+1050, DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen2"
        Device         "Videocard2"
        Monitor        "Monitor2"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "1"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1680x1050_60 +0+1050, DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen3"
        Device         "Videocard3"
        Monitor        "Monitor3"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "0"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen4"
        Device         "Videocard4"
        Monitor        "Monitor4"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "0"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "Screen"
        Identifier     "Screen5"
        Device         "Videocard5"
        Monitor        "Monitor5"
        DefaultDepth    24
        Option 	   "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option	   "AddARGBGLXVisuals"	"True"
        Option         "TwinView" "0"
        Option         "metamodes" "DFP-1: 1680x1050_60 +0+0"
        SubSection     "Display"
            Depth       24
        EndSubSection
        Defaultdepth    24
    EndSection
    
    Section "DRI"
    	Mode 0666
    EndSection
    
    Section "Extensions"
        Option  "Composite" "Enable"
    EndSection

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