[CentOS] Dual video card, 1 monitor each (ref dual head) CentoS4.6 xorg does only 1 head

Tue Jul 22 15:45:52 UTC 2008
Glenn <centos at 1bigadmin.biz>

At 11:13 AM 7/22/2008, you wrote:
>On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:03:16 -0400
>"William L. Maltby" <CentOS4Bill at triad.rr.com> took out a #2 pencil
>and scribbled:
>
> > I need to start running a dual head on one of my machines.
> > Eventual target is CentOS 5.x. Decided to test first on my 4.6
> > setup (eventually it will achieve 5.x). Both machines are fully
> > up to date.
> >
> > The test machine is 4.6, 2 radeon video cards. Searched the web,
> > CentOS site, even bugzilla. This bugzilla entry from a 4.2
> > system), http://bugs.centos.org/view.php?id=1875
> > had only a WFM response.
> >
> > I've attached a gzipped text file of pertinent information.
> >
> > Briefly, kudzu did the right thing when I installed the second
> > card. System-config-display also behaved correctly. X start ok,
> > but will only use one head at a time. Adding a second "BusID" so
> > that both cards are explicitly addressed didn't help. When the 2
> > "BusID" entries are switched, the active screen doesn't move
> > (it's always "Screen0") and the ignored screen ("Screen1")
> > remains the same. The monitor attached to the video card for
> > "Screen0" becomes the active one.
> >
> > Q1: Anyone have a two video card CentOS 4.6 setup working?
> >
> > Q2: Is it working in CentOS 5?
> >
> > Q3: Anyone see something I'm doing wrong? Suggestions?
> >
> > TIA,
>
>This was addressed on the list at one point, and marked as solved
>by the poster.
>
>http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2007-May/080915.html
>
>Does this help you out? I haven't had occasion to play with dual
>head yet.
>
>A quick google also turned this up, but it is not directly related
>to CentOS, I run an nvidia card and can't speak to how well this
>would work for you.
>
>http://www.linuxine.com/2008/06/how-to-enable-dual-monitors-with-ati-diplay-card-in-linux.html
>
>Mind the line wrapping.
>
>HTH
>
>Alex White

Good reading, even though I am not doing dual-head at the moment.

First thing that popped in my head upon reading the initial request 
was check Matrox.. they've always been on the high-end and I knew 
their graphics cards were well supported in Linux. Shop eBay and see 
Matrox' site (http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/support/drivers/) to 
compare whether the card has a Linux driver. Many of their models are 
dual-head on one card.

Cheers,
Glenn