P4317Q, How OS agnostic is it?

Question

Currently I have a dual-monitor set-up on a Ubuntu Linux PC and next to it, another dual-monitor set-up on a FreeBSD PC - that's four 20' monitors in a row and I use a Lindy KM switch to switch my keyboard & mouse between the two PCs. It works OK but these are 1600x1200 screens and I would like to get more onto them (I'm a sys admin with lots of xterms, etc open on all screens) so I was looking at the P4317Q as a possible solution instead of buying four 24' or 27' screens. Most of the time I would be using the 4 PBP mode so is this likely to run into O/S support issues? Secondly it might be an advantage if I could resize the individual pictures or move them around; I realise DDM isn't available for Linux (never mind FreeBSD) but can I do all these things on the command line via the RS232 serial interface? Andy

DELL-Chris M · Accepted Answer

Many Dell unknowns here...* Dell does not test our monitors using KVM's* Dell does not support Linux, Ubuntu, etc. on the P4317Q. Not only will DDM not work, we do not have a monitor driver for those OS* The P4317Q RS232 Protocol Document PDF is here* The P4317Q RS232 Protocol Examples PDF example PDF is here

andyt22imp · Answer

Thanks for your quick reply. I get the feeling it *might* work if each of the four PBPs are effectively treated as independent monitors with completely separate inputs but as you say, it's not officially supported and I would have no other use for this screen if it doesn't work (other than try and persuade a Window-using colleague.to buy it off me!). I think I'll look at Dell's 24 or 27" ranges and get one of those 4-monitor desk brackets.

Incidentally, the KM switch I use switches keyboard & mouse only, it doesn't switch screens. So I can work on two PCs, look at 4 screens but use just one keyboard & mouse.

Andy

DELL-Chris M · Answer

Before you buy another monitor...* Once you identify the model* Go here* Click the specific model* Click Drivers & downloads* Click the drop down arrow under 'Operating system:' to see if Linux is listed Here is the link to our Linux General Forum board. You might ask them what monitor models they are using, etc.

andyt22imp · Answer

I'm using Dell U2412m monitors at home with many different computer operating systems with no problems at all, so I think I will go for four of these instead. Admittedly, an advantage these have over the P4317Q is that with the right monitor arms, they have more adjustments for height, angling/tilting of the screens, etc so will probably work better for the way I want to use them anyway.

Thanks for your help,

Andy

Monitors

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