DisplayLink

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One X-Server

DisplayLink is a technology that enables monitors to work via USB.

Installation

Kernel

Activate the following kernel options:

KERNEL

Device Drivers --->
    Graphics support --->
        <*> DisplayLink
        <*> Frame buffer Devices --->
            <*> Displaylink USB Framebuffer support

After booting into the new kernel the external monitor should show a green background image. That means the kernel module is loaded and the device works, it also creates the device in /dev/fb0.

Note
If there are other framebuffer devices, it will be /dev/fb1, ...

X driver

For X11 drivers, x11-drivers/xf86-video-fbdev:

FILE /etc/portage/make.confSet VIDEO_CARDS to fbdev

VIDEO_CARDS="... fbdev"

After setting or altering VIDEO_CARDS values remember to update the system using the following command so the changes take effect:

root #emerge --ask --changed-use --deep @world

One X server

TODO

Two X server

This method is failsafe and should work with any graphics card installed. Start two instances of X server for each device and then use a software called x2x to move the input devices between them.

two independent instances and desktops
Input devices follow the mouse pointer

Software

For this method, another input device driver called x11-drivers/xf86-input-void is necessary:

FILE /etc/portage/make.conf

INPUT_DEVICES="... void ..."

root #emerge --ask --changed-use --deep @world

Also install x11-misc/x2x:

root #emerge --ask x11-misc/x2x

xorg.conf.DL

Configure two independent xorg.confs for each device and initialize the desktop using ~/.xinitrc scripts.

Note
Checking other xorg.conf files (including files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/) may be necessary for any overlap in various names used. See the Discussion page for details.

Create the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.DL:

FILE /etc/X11/xorg.conf.DL

Section "Device"
    Identifier "DisplayLinkDevice"
    driver "fbdev"
    Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0"    # You have to use the correct framebuffer device here
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "DisplayLinkMonitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Default Screen"
    Device "DisplayLinkDevice"
    Monitor "DisplayLinkMonitor"
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 16         # 24bit works fine but for USB 2.0 a lot of data
        Modes "1280x1024"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "Server Layout"
    Screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
    Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "True"
    InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "AllowEmptyInput" "false"
    Option "AutoAddDevices" "false"
    Option "AutoEnableDevices" "false"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard0"
    Driver "void"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Mouse0"
    Driver "void"
EndSection

.xinitrc2

Next, create the ~/.xinitrc2 for the external display. Create and customize the file to as needed, here is an example:

Note
DPMS is turned off, because I once had trouble to wake up the monitor again.

FILE ~/.xinitrc2

# DPMS stuff
## turn on monitor
xset dpms force on
## disable sleep modes etc.
xset -dpms
## disable screensaver
xset s off

# turn off beep
xset -b

# activate zapping (ctrl+alt+Bksp killall X)
setxkbmap -option terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp

# Set the background using feh
feh --bg-scale /usr/share/slim/themes/capernoited/background.jpg

# compositoring
xcompmgr -c -t-5 -l-5 -r4.2 -o.55 &

# start programs
wicd-client &
mrxvt &
# start the actual window manager
exec /usr/bin/awesome

displaylink.sh

This is the actual script that starts the second instance of X server. Make it executable and save it somewhere in your home folder, in this example we save it to ~/.displaylink.sh:

FILE ~/.displaylink.sh

#!/bin/sh
xinit ~/.xinitrc2 -- /usr/bin/X :1 -xf86config xorg.conf.DL -novtswitch -sharevts -audit 0 -layout "Screen Layout" vt12 &
sleep 5
x2x -west -from :0 -to :1 &

Note
If you call this script to your actual ~/.xinitrc (which is executed on every start of X) or add it to GNOME, KDE, etc. autostart, it will automatically initialize the second desktop for you. If the second screen is not attached, it just fails to do so.

Note
If your system has a /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/, most likely you will need to start with the above -layout option so the X11 server being started will start properly. See the discussion.

DisplayLink 4-in-1 Adapter

It is a USB 3.0 adapter comes with 4 ports:

One USB 3.0 port
One Ethernet port
One HDMI port
One VGA port

The USB 3.0 port should work if you already have USB 3.0 related kernel configured. To get the Ethernet port work, you need to activate the following kernel options：

KERNEL

Device Drivers --->
    <*> Network device support --->
        <*> USB Network Adapters --->
	   -M- CDC NCM support
	   <M> CDC MBIM support

The Ethernet port will be seen as usb0 network device.

External resources