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I run a home file server on Ubuntu 18.04, which normally doesn't have a monitor plugged in. I would like to be able to VNC into it, but I discovered that it doesn't start the X session until I plug in a monitor. So I installed xserver-xorg-video-dummy and created an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file that uses the dummy driver.

It works great, but I still want to be able to plug in a physical monitor. However, since the xorg.conf file overrides my previous configuration, when I plug in a physical monitor, I just get a blank screen. I can still VNC in and see my desktop, but the physical monitor is blank.

I tried removing the 'dummy' xorg.conf file and running sudo Xorg -configure without X running in order to generate an xorg.conf file that I could then add the dummy display to as a mirror of the physical display, but the Xorg -configure command segfaults. I've read that xorg.conf is rarely used anymore, and that Xorg -configure is obsolete and should not be used, and regardless, the Xorg -configure segfault is not likely to be fixed any time soon.

Is there a way I can get both the physical monitor and the dummy monitor to work, without using an xorg.conf file?

Mike Holt
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1 Answers1

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I found the reference here: video-dummy - The Fake display with/without monitor connected at the same time. You need to set KMS (Kernel Mode Setting) off.

For ATI graphics:

echo options radeon modeset=0 > /etc/modprobe.d/radeon-kms.conf

For Intel graphics:

echo options i915 modeset=0 > /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf

Works fine with ubuntu 20.04

Nautatava Navlakha
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