5

I have looked at:

  1. How does /will Unity handle multiple monitors? -> only two monitors with twinview
  2. How do I get three monitors working? -> each monitor uses a separate x screen + xinerama (no 3d acceleration -> no Unity)

My current setup looks like this:

Two monitors in Twinview + one monitor as a separate X screen (it is not a problem that I cannot move windows from that monitor to the other two, I used to work like this on Ubuntu 10.10). The problem with this is, that I am unable to start applications on the separate X screen and when I manage to open a terminal on there, I am unable to interact with it (no window decoration).

I can still use my setup with the Gnome session (Ubuntu Classic), so I am not urgently looking for an answer, but I would like to know if it can be done and hopefully learn something in the process.

Edit: I should probably mention that I have two nvidia graphics cards in my computer. And that I am happy with the solution that I am currently using with gnome (i. e. TwinView + separate X screen). This won't work with Unity as I don't know of a way to launch applications on the separate X screen.

Byte Commander
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bjoernz
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  • Unity is rough yet, and things like several X servers are beyond considerations now. May be it is time to try KDE? Plasma is not crashing now ;) – Barafu Albino May 03 '11 at 08:20

3 Answers3

3

It's currently quite hard to get even dual monitors working. There are reports of bugs and inability to get a dual monitor working so 3 monitors is going to be a stretch at this point.

Nicolas de Fontenay
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  • I find it quite painless to use two (and even three) monitors with the nvidia drivers. I have added that information to my post. – bjoernz May 03 '11 at 08:15
  • Is it a reason not to do what you want? – Barafu Albino May 03 '11 at 08:15
  • Just saying it could be wise to wait a tad longer. – Nicolas de Fontenay May 03 '11 at 09:01
  • @ndefontenay When I read your reply, I misread it as a general response to the multi-monitor set-up. But I am still hoping that there is a better answer than "Not Yet!" :-) – bjoernz May 03 '11 at 11:31
  • @bjoernz > Hi. I'm having the multi monitor issues (ie: Sitting idle) as well so I was looking around for how people experience it.

    There's this guy who seems to succeed on more than 2 monitors.

    I would suggest you try it first in a test environment. Because it seems to be working on a per user basis still. http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/7396/dual-monitor-support

    Also the google search with more problems that solutions: http://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=unity+multi+monitor+setup&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

     – Nicolas de Fontenay May 04 '11 at 03:11
  • The first link should reply to your question: How unity handles it. – Nicolas de Fontenay May 04 '11 at 03:12
  • I have unchecked your answer, because it does not really explain how to set it up, only that it is impossible at the moment, and I agree with that. – bjoernz Oct 17 '11 at 07:03
1

I'm having the same problem for a very similar set up: 2 nvidia gpus, one using twinview and the other as a separate xscreen. The separate xscreen is effectively useless with no keyboard input or menus...Maverick worked fine.

Guess we just wait...

EDIT filed bug report https://bugs.launchpad.net/unity/+bug/779124

amc
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1

I get minor functionality by running a /usr/bin/unity link on my desktop in the seperate x-screens. I also created a new folder on the seperate desktops so I can get filesystem access. Still no panels, and due to unity, no menu bar, but at least it lets the keyboard work on the other screens.

Reaper
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