Screen-cloning on iBook: How to adopt the Debian solution?

[soebbi]

Hi everybody!

I follow the Debian ppc-mailinglists on which recently the following solution for screen-cloning was presented:
 - Install XFree86 DRI Trunk "25 July 2003" release
 - Remove UseFBDev option
 - Add :
        Option  "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT" (maybe, only for M6)
        Option  "CloneHSync"    "30.0-100.0"  (only for M6)
        Option  "CloneVRefresh" "50.0-160.0" (only for M6)
        Option  "OverlayOnCRTC2"
to your XF86config.

Well, ich can add the parameters to my XFconfig, and I can remove the UseFBDev option (which then borks my X), but where do I get and how do I install the "XFree DRI Trunk" package?

I need to get the external video working, i'll do a "Linux Basics" presentation on a local "Linux Install Party" in a few weeks, and I would hate to have to start MacOSX for this.

So, does anybody have an idea? I'm sure a lot of other people would like to have this working, too.
Thanks in advance!
Soebbi

PS: I've got an iBook2/700 with an M6 Radeon card, btw.

[zojas]

I'm quite interested in this too, I have the exact same ibook.

the first thing is to try the newest xfree-drm in portage. check out x11-base/xfree-drm/

try adding the "ppc" keyword to the newest ebuild there. there is one from july 28, but I don't know if it has the code they're talking about. you could probably see what patches they apply.
_________________
http://www.desertsol.com/~kevin/ppc

[soebbi]

Hey, this nearly works!

I emerged xfree-drm-4.3.0-r6 and made the mentioned changes to my XF86config. If I now start X my external monitor comes to life and clones my screen! The only problem left is: It looks like someone is holding a mobile next to the screen, although its still readable, it flickers a lot!

I played a bit with the horizontal/vertical refresh rates, but it doesn't matter.

So, things are getting better, hope they're getting well soon!

Greets,
Soebbi

[EDIT]
This killes my Xvideo, btw
[/EDIT]

[gordin]

Hi everybody,

I got it. I combined the lid-close trick with the debian solution and I got a screen without flickers. (ok its only 60 Hz, but no waves)
I think this is because the first screen is now the external monitor and the internal LCD as the second screen just doesn't flicker.

[soebbi]

How does this "lid-close trick" work? I read about it on the mailinglist, but they didn't say what it means. Do I have to close my iBook in a certain moment (when X starts)? But it would go to sleep then, wouldn't it?

Thanks for your help!
Soebbi
_________________
"Even though Mac Users may be only 10% of market, always remember we are the top 10%"
- Douglas Adams

[gordin]

Hi soebbi,

unfortunately you have to close the lid after the gong-sound when rebooting. The NVRam switchs the output to the external monitor, then.
(The Monitor has to be connetctet, or at least the adaptor).
Now your second monitor is the LCD.
When Linux is booting, open the lid to prevent the system to go to sleep. After starting the X-Server you will have output on the LCD and the external monitor.

Note: if you want to play videos on the external monitor with xvid don't set the
Option "OverlayOnCRTC2"
as mentioned in the debian-mailinglist. (This would output to the LCD)
I played a little with the vsync and hsync to have the monitor work with more than 60Hz. This is what I have now:
I don't use CloneHSync and CloneVRefresh

[soebbi]

Ey karamba!

It works! Thanks a lot, gordin!

This really rocks! Might be a bit complicated for the day-to-day use (who works with a cloned screen all the time, anyway) but is definatly enough for my little tutorial.

So, only the screen spanning left!
It is really great to see that one day i will be able to use even the last piece of possibility the hardware of this great notebook provides with my beloved gentoo-linux!

Greets!
Soebbi
_________________
"Even though Mac Users may be only 10% of market, always remember we are the top 10%"
- Douglas Adams