Re: Debian 12 PPC64 (MintPPC64), Two Monitors, Only One Being Used

[Cedar Maxwell <cedarmaxwell@mac.com>]

>From your Xorg.0.log:

[    24.999] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Using spanning desktop for initial modes

The nouveau driver is creating a spanning desktop (a single big
3360×1050 screen) instead of two independent X screens or a properly
configured multi-head layout.

Run:

xrandr --listmonitors
xrandr

If both outputs (DVI-I-1, DVI-I-2) are listed, you can try:

xrandr --output DVI-I-1 --auto --left-of DVI-I-2

Create a file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nouveau.conf:

Section "Device"
    Identifier "NvidiaCard"
    Driver "nouveau"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Cinema1"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Cinema2"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device "NvidiaCard"
    Monitor "Cinema1"
    DefaultDepth 24
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Virtual 3360 1050
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "DualLayout"
    Screen "Screen0"
EndSection

On Tue, 2025-09-09 at 11:29 -0400, Michael Campbell wrote:
> Hi, 
> 
> Thanks for replying. My Xorg.0.log is attached, along with an xorg
> conf I tried that also didn't work (placed it in
> /user/share/X11/xorg.conf.d).
> 
> Any and all contents appreciated!
> 
> Cheers, 
> Michael
> 
> 
> On September 8, 2025 8:43:12 PM EDT, Cedar Maxwell
> <cedarmaxwell@mac.com> wrote:
> > Can you post your /var/log/Xorg.0.log and Xorg.1.log ?
> > 
> > On Sun, 2025-09-07 at 08:34 -0400, Michael Campbell wrote:
> > > Hi, 
> > > 
> > > My apologies for the repeat of this message. I am resending to
> > > make
> > > this a unique thread, as requested by Adrian and others.
> > > 
> > > Adrian, Jeroen, if creating a fresh message with a unique title
> > > doesn't make this a unique thread, could you point me at the
> > > requirements to do this please? Thanks!
> > > 
> > > --- repeated post ---
> > > 
> > > I have a late 2005 Power Mac G5 Quad running Debian 12 PPC64 with
> > > the
> > > MintPPC64 layer on it. I have two Apple 20" Cinema displays
> > > connected
> > > to the system via the two DVI ports supplied by my single nVidia
> > > GeForce 6600 video card (supported by the "nouveau" driver). 
> > > 
> > > Under Mac OS X (Sorbet) Leopard, both monitors are active and
> > > used as
> > > one extended desktop. Under Mint/Debian, only one is in use. 
> > > 
> > > I have researched extensively online and tried all sorts of
> > > solutions, largely involving xrandr and xset. Nothing has worked
> > > so
> > > far. xrandr reports two displays, which it names DVI-I-1 and DVI-
> > > I-2.
> > > 
> > > The usual prescription:
> > > 
> > > xrandar --output DVI-I-2 --auto
> > > 
> > > is accepted and executed without error, but the monitor
> > > stubbornly
> > > stays off. Correction: the power light stays on, but the screen
> > > stays
> > > off.
> > > 
> > > Constructions like:
> > > 
> > > xrandr --output DVI-I-1 --auto --output DVI-I-2 --auto --rightof
> > > DVI-
> > > I-1
> > > 
> > > also executes without error, but there is no change in the
> > > screen...
> > > it stays off.
> > > 
> > > The system understands that there is a second monitor... the
> > > mouse
> > > cursor will disappear into the second one. If I set it as
> > > primary,
> > > windows will open on that screen, but because it is off, I can't
> > > see
> > > them. I have occasionally managed to snag one of them and drag
> > > them
> > > back to the screen that IS on. 
> > > 
> > > It is as if everything is working logically, but physically,
> > > nothing
> > > is turning the screen on. The physical screen doesn't seem to be
> > > connected to the logical one.
> > > 
> > > I am stumped at this point. 
> > > 
> > > Any and all pointers much appreciated.
> > > 
> > > Regards,
> > > Michael
> > > 
> >