Xfce 4.18 - multiple monitors/device/screen

kosiek · 2023-08-11 15:52:00

Hi
Basic information:

System: Debian 12 fresh installation
Xfce: 4.18
xorg: 1.7
gpu: GeForce GT 710
nvidia-driver: 470.199.02

There is a problem with multiple screens. Not monitor! Screens.

On Debian 10 with:
Xfce: 4.12
xorg: 1.7
gpu: GeForce GT 710
nvidia-driver: 470.199.02

I could have 3 different screens each on different monitor, and Xfce work fine.

When i Install Debian 12 Xfce run only on one monitor with the same xorg.conf everything work fine on Debina 10. On other monitor there is only cursor, but i couldn't do anything - no menu, panel, background, only mouse cursor on black screen. Is it possible to configure Xfce to work with this or this functionality is no longer supported? I work on Xfce from more than 10 years because this is perfect solution for me.

Here is my xorg.conf:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    Screen      2  "Screen2" RightOf "Screen1"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "DELL P2419H"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 76.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "DELL P2419H"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 76.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor2"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "DELL P2419H"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 76.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "NVIDIA GeForce GT 710"
    BusID          "PCI:7:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "NVIDIA GeForce GT 710"
    BusID          "PCI:7:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device2"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "NVIDIA GeForce GT 710"
    BusID          "PCI:7:0:0"
    Screen          2
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "HDMI-0: 1920x1080_60 +0+0"
    Option         "SLI" "Off"
    Option         "MultiGPU" "Off"
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "off"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "HDMI-1: 1920x1080_60 +0+0 {AllowGSYNC=Off}"
    Option         "SLI" "Off"
    Option         "MultiGPU" "Off"
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "off"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen2"
    Device         "Device2"
    Monitor        "Monitor2"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "HDMI-2: 1920x1080_60 +0+0 {AllowGSYNC=Off}"
    Option         "SLI" "Off"
    Option         "MultiGPU" "Off"
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "off"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

ToZ · 2023-08-11 16:30:23

Have a read through https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfwm4/-/issues/506. Important part:

This is called Zaphod mode, one display, two X11 screens - we don't really support that anymore now that GTK itself has removed support for it.

kosiek · 2023-08-14 13:51:47

It is really bad news for me. At least I found the 'name' of this solution bad that it happened after it death. Ok so maybe You know it is possible to configure Xfce with these assumptions:
- one screen on 3 monitors;
- separate workspaces on each monitor so switching workspace only on active monitor;

ToZ · 2023-08-14 17:31:01

kosiek wrote:

- one screen on 3 monitors;

Yes, this is possible

- separate workspaces on each monitor so switching workspace only on active monitor;

Unfortunately, this is not currently possible. See:

- Enhancement request
- Reason why its not currently programmed to do so(see point #2 and reply)
(also see: https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfwm4/-/issues/672 - for how mutter deals with it). You could try mimicking this by setting the sticky value on programs on the screens that you want to not switch - wmctrl can help here.

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#1 2023-08-11 15:52:00

Xfce 4.18 - multiple monitors/device/screen

#2 2023-08-11 16:30:23

Re: Xfce 4.18 - multiple monitors/device/screen

#3 2023-08-14 13:51:47

Re: Xfce 4.18 - multiple monitors/device/screen

#4 2023-08-14 17:31:01

Re: Xfce 4.18 - multiple monitors/device/screen

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