This chapter explains how to use a Dual Head configuration.
If you received a CD with your shipment, read the CD software installation booklet for information on installing the Dual Head software before proceeding.
If you stacked the monitors, be sure to reconfigure the software, as described in “Reconfiguring the Software for Use with Stacked Monitors”.
To move the cursor from one monitor to the other, move the cursor off the screen it is on toward the other monitor. The cursor will jump to the other monitor.
The default is for the primary monitor to be located to your left as you face the front of the monitors and the secondary monitor to be located to your right. By default, the cursor moves from the right edge of the primary monitor to the left edge of the secondary monitor.
To switch cursor crossover locations, follow these instructions and refer to Table 3-1.
Move your monitors to the chosen position.
If your workstation is powered off, follow the steps in your Octane2 Workstation Owner's Guide to plug in the system and power it on.
Log in to the system.
From the Toolchest, click on Desktop, then select Open Unix Shell to open a shell window.
Place the cursor inside the shell window.
Become superuser by typing su and pressing the Return key, then entering the root password.
Change the directory to access the Xservers file as follows:
cd /usr/lib/X11/xdm
Change the permissions on this file (to be able to write to it) before you begin by typing the following command:
chmod u+rw Xservers
Using your favorite text editor, open the Xservers file.
Add the appropriate line from Table 3-1 to the file.
Note: The contents of the file should be on one line. Do not insert hard returns. Table 3-1. Changing Cursor Crossover Locations
If you want:
Add this:
Primary (0) on the left,
Secondary (1) on the right (default)
Delete any command found in this table from the Xservers file.
Secondary (1) on the left,
Primary (0) on the right
-hw board=0,left=1 -hw board=1,right=0
Primary (0) below,
Secondary (1) above
-hw board=0,above=1 -hw board=1,below=0
Secondary (1) below,
Primary (0) above
-hw board=0,below=1 -hw board=1,above=0
Save the file and exit the text editor.
Caution: Close any open applications before you follow step 12. The command closes any running applications, and any unsaved work will be lost. Restart your server.
Stay in superuser mode.
Type on the command line: killall Xsgi
After a few seconds, the login window appears.
Log in to the system.
During an interactive session with the Window Manager, you can use the DISPLAY environment variable to control the head on which newly started graphics programs run. When the DISPLAY variable is set to :0.0, programs you start run on head 0 (the primary head); when it is set to :0.1, programs you start run on head 1 (the secondary head).
For convenience, the default startup files (.login, .profile) for root and guest shells set the DISPLAY variable to a reasonable initial value, if it is not already set. Each head has a toolchest that can be used to invoke graphics programs. Each toolchest has the DISPLAY variable in its environment set to the correct value for the head on which it appears, so any application you invoke from a toolchest inherits this DISPLAY value, and thus appears on the same head as the toolchest from which it was invoked.
Similarly, programs started by clicking on an icon appear on the head from which you invoked them.
Once a program has been launched, it is impossible to move it from one head to another from the Window Manager.
See Appendix C, “Choosing a Graphics Head (for Developers)”, for more information on choosing a graphics head.
The Dual Head software's default is for the monitors to be positioned side by side. If your monitors are stacked on top of each other, you will need to reconfigure the software.
Follow these steps to reconfigure the software:
If your workstation is powered off, follow the steps in your Octane2 Workstation Owner's Guide to plug in the system and power it on.
Log in to the system.
From the Toolchest, click on Desktop, then select Open Unix Shell to open a shell window.
Place the cursor inside the shell window.
Become superuser by typing su and pressing the Return key, then entering the root password.
Change the directory to access the Xservers file as follows:
cd /usr/lib/X11/xdm
Change the permissions on this file (to be able to write to it) before you begin by typing the following command:
chmod u+rw Xservers
Using your favorite text editor, open the Xservers file. Once you are in the Xservers file, find the line that reads:
0 secure /usr/bin/X11/x -bs -c -pseudomap 4sight
Add -stacked to the end of the following line:
0 secure /usr/bin/X11/x -bs -c -pseudomap 4sight
It should now read:
0 secure /usr/bin/X11/x -bs -c -pseudomap 4sight -stacked
Save the file and exit the text editor.
Caution: Close any open applications before you follow step 11. The command closes any running applications, and any unsaved work will be lost. Restart your X Windows server.
Stay in superuser mode.
Type on the command line: killall Xsgi
After a few seconds, the login window appears.
Log in to the system.
You are finished reconfiguring the software for use with stacked monitors.