Dual monitor boot in CentOS 8

[vg_01]

Hello,

I am using 2 monitors for CentOS 8 guest under Windows 10 host and CentOS guest do not save dual monitor layout after reboot.

open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop 10.3.10 installed. I am using KDE.

I am curious is it OK by default? In Windows guests dual or triple monitors layout properly restored after reboot.

I have created xorg.conf in /etc/X11.

In Xorg.0.log vmware service properly configured second display and says it is enabled.

[     6.502] (II) vmware(0): Output Virtual2 enabled by config file

But xrandr -q says it is disconnected. Please look at the attached logs.

[user@localhost ~]$ xrandr -q

Screen 0: minimum 1 x 1, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384

Virtual1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm

   1920x1080     60.00*+

....

Virtual2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

   1080x1920     60.00 +

....

After changing monitor layout from the top command bar in full screen mode I can manipulate that display with xrandr and it is connected until next reboot.

Screen 0: minimum 1 x 1, current 3000 x 1920, maximum 16384 x 16384

Virtual1 connected primary 1920x1080+1080+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm

...

Virtual2 connected 1080x1920+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm

I was thinking that vwware-toolbox-cmd or vmtoolsd or any other tool from open-vm-tools can help me to automate this task during boot/login but information about this is very limited online.

I would be grateful if you can point me in the right direction if automation of monitor layout with /etc/vmware-tools/scripts is possible.

Any places where I can look at why layout is not saved after reboot? Or how can I solve this?

Thanks

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

the product and the version of vmware you are using which one is it?

What brand and model of video card do you have?

ARomeo

[vg_01]

I am sorry that I did not mention this.:smileyshocked:

VMware® Workstation 15 Pro

15.5.1 build-15018445

2 of 3 monitors connected to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti. These are used for VMs.

3rd monitor connected to discrete Intel HD Graphics 4600.

Host:   Windows 10, 64-bit  (Build 18363) 10.0.18363

Guest: Linux localhost.localdomain 4.18.0-147.5.1.el8_1.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 5 02:00:39 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

            CentOS 8 Min install + KDE + open-vm-tools/desktop, 8 cores i7, 8GB RAM

In guest display settings "Accelerate 3D graphics enabled", "Use host settings for monitors", 768MB, no display scaling

I have tried to specify monitor settings to 2 monitors with 3000x1920 each with no positive result.

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

I believe that the settings must be made on the vmware Workstation and Linux Centos side.

With the following indications you could do it. Try and let me know.

• read page 123 of the attached file.

and

[solved] Configuring multiple monitors permanently [Nvidia]

https://forums.centos.org/viewtopic.php?t=55255

ARomeo

[vg_01]

Thanks for this information.

As PDF says, I have changed "Autosize" to "Center Guest" and all next tries were done without possibility to cycle monitors

The xorg.conf config from the link did not help, and I tried many others configs. I also tried more "modern" approach - split xorg.conf into several files and place it in xorg.conf.d folder, but it did not change anything. New logs and config attached.

Any first monitor, which is bonded to Virtual1, connected and working as configured, I did not find the way to add the second, except changing "Autosize" back and cycle. And only until next boot.

I installed fresh CenOS 8 with default configuration (GNOME, etc...) and monitor layout also not saved after reboot...