Xorg RandR 1.2

Overview

X RandR is used to set the size, orientation and reflection of the screen display outputs.

xrandr is the command line interface to the RandR X extension. Use

   $ xrandr --help

and

   $ man xrandr

to discover the essentials.

This page will cover present development of Xorg 7.3 with RandR version 1.2 based on testing the forthcoming Ubuntu 'Gutsy' (7.10) release with a Thinkpad R60e (Intel 946GM graphics chip).

xorg.conf

Start testing with a default configuration. Connect the external display to the VGA port, turn on that display, boot and run (as root)

   # dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

The resulting /etc/X11/xorg.conf should include something like

   Section "Device"
       Identifier	"Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller"
       Driver		"intel"
       BusID		"PCI:0:2:0"
   EndSection
   Section "Monitor"
       Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
       Option		"DPMS"
   EndSection
   Section "Screen"
       Identifier	"Default Screen"
       Device		"Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller"
       Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
       DefaultDepth	24
   ...
       SubSection "Display"
           Depth		24
           Modes		"1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
       EndSubSection
   EndSection
   Section "ServerLayout"
       Identifier	"Default Layout"
       Screen		"Default Screen"
       InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
       InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
       InputDevice     "stylus"	"SendCoreEvents"
       InputDevice     "cursor"	"SendCoreEvents"
       InputDevice     "eraser"	"SendCoreEvents"
       InputDevice	"Synaptics Touchpad"
   EndSection

Using $ xrandr

Hint:

Open a terminal window to use the command line 'Applications:Accessories:Terminal'

Take a look at the 'help' and 'man' pages.

  $ xrandr --help
  $ man xrandr

Then query what we have $ xrandr -q

 Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1600 x 1600
 VGA connected (normal left inverted right)
     1600x1200      60.0 +   59.9  
     1280x1024      75.0     59.9  
     1152x864       74.8  
     1024x768       75.1     60.0  
     800x600        75.0     60.3  
     640x480        75.0     60.0  
     720x400        70.1  
 LVDS connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 304mm x 228mm
     1024x768       60.0*+   50.0  
     800x600        60.3  
     640x480        60.0     59.9  
 TV disconnected (normal left inverted right)

Author Notes

Version 7.10 (Gutsy) of Ubuntu includes support for Xorg 7.3 with RandR 1.2 Xorg 7.3

For versions of Ubuntu prior to 7.10 see Installing Ubuntu on a ThinkPad R60e for an Xorg.conf suitable for use with more than one screen

RandR extension is currently under development see: Xorg Developer Conference 2007 and X RandR v1.2.