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P4317Q, How OS agnostic is it?
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
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September 25th, 2018 08:00
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
38 Posts
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September 25th, 2018 09:00
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
Community Manager
Community Manager
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54.9K Posts
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September 25th, 2018 11:00
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
38 Posts
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October 1st, 2018 04:00
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