I have both monitors in portrait mode (i.e. they're vertical, not horizontal). Only one monitor shows an interface, the other is blank (white). I also do not know how to rotate the displays - I haven't seen an option for it.
OS: Linux-X86_64 (Ubuntu 11.10)
GPU: 2x Nvidia GeForce 550 Ti
Nvidia drivers: v280.13
Here is a screenshot of the one desktop that I can see (it's rotated by 90 degrees).
3 Answers
I got my NVIDIA 550 TI with dual monitors running by adding the latest NVIDIA driver PPA.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings Reboot and then retry enabling the 2nd monitor again.
1Please note people the question is not just getting dual head to work, but getting dual head with pivot to work.
I believe the feature is not working at all. I spent At least a weeks getting trying to get it work for my external screen and nvidia setup.
Usually enabling pivot form the nvidia driver resets the session and takes me back to the login screen of unity.
If your graphics card support Nouveau and you find it to be a valid alternative. Install it. There pivo works like a charm.
I had the same problem with a 460. Try using TwinMode. Save the configuration to X without applying the changes. Logout and login, should be working then. It creates a virtual kind of monitor where Ubuntu detects your two monitors as one giant one made up of the combined resolutions. The top bar is a bit buggy with unity and the two screens, but the sidebar works perfectly. This is solution so far, but I'm currently looking for a better way.
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