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2. Connect your workstation monitor = to a PC

2.1. So where's the problem?

There are actually several problems. UNIX workstation monitors don't = use HD15=20 connectors (also known as VGA connectors) and they often use another = signal=20 synchronization method. Furthermore they often can only synchronize at = fixed=20 frequencies (this is why they are sometimes called fixed frequency = monitors).=20

2.1.1. Cabling

2.1.1.1. 13W3

Most used connectors are the so called 13W3. This connector type has = three=20 mini-coaxial pins and ten normal pins in between. The red, green and = blue=20 signals are transfered via the mini-coaxial pins and the 10 pins are = only used=20 if the monitor doesn't use Sync On Green.

This type of connectors have been found on SGI, SUN and NeXT = workstations.=20

These connectors look like the following schematic:

        _____________________________________
       /   ___    ___    5       1     ___   \
      |   /A3 \  /A2 \   . . . . .    /A1 \   |
      \  (  o  )(  o  )   . . . . .  (  o  )  /
       \  \___/  \___/    6       10  \___/  /
        \___________________________________/

2.1.2. Synchronization methods

There are several synchronization methods. PC's VGA uses the = so-called=20 seperate sync method (horizontal and vertical sync are on two lines). =

2.1.2.1. Sync On Green = synchronization

Workstations often use the Sync On Green method where the = synchronization=20 signals are sent after the green signal on the green line.

This method theoretically doesn't use other lines than the red, green = and=20 blue one.

2.2. Connection cable

To connect your workstation monitor to a PC you need the = corresponding cable.=20 You have two possibilities: buy a cable or make your own. Rolling your = own isn't=20 that hard as it sounds in the first moment. All you need is a little = solder=20 experience.

If you don't know how to solder or don't have the needed solder=20 infrastructure you can buy one from various resellers.

2.2.1. HD15-male to 13W3-male = cable

This type of cable is used to connect a SGI, SUN or NeXT workstation = monitor=20 to a PC. But be warned, the NeXT version of the cable have a different = pinout=20 (the blue and green signals are swapped).

You can buy one from those resellers:

MonitorWorld.com

If you don't have the money and some soldering expirience you need = the=20 following parts:

old VGA cable
three mini-coaxial pins suitable for a 13W3 connector
a 13W3 connector
optionally a SUB-D case, but we all love the retro style, don't=20 we?

Now you solder a cable with this pinout:

PC side pin#	purpose	workstation monitor pin#
1	RED	A1
2	GREEN	A2
3	BLUE	A3
6	REDGND	A1GND
7	GREENGND	A2GND
8	BLUEGND	A3GND
10	GND	9

2.3. Synchronization

In order to see anything on the monitor you need a magic box that = converts=20 the seperate sync signal of the PC to your monitors synchronization = method or=20 your graphic card can generate various sync methods. You can even modify = the=20 monitor to accept seperate sync. But the simplest (and maybe cheapest) = method is=20 to use a "featurerich" graphic card.

But that's not all. Workstation won't likely work in your graphic = cards=20 textmode. At boot time you will probably never bring the monitor to = work. They=20 will only work in graphic mode. To bring your monitor into graphic mode = you can=20 use the XFree86 X11 environment or a framebuffer device. Both have to = support=20 the graphic cards special sync feature else it will not work.

2.3.1. XFree86

FIXME

Since XFree86 4.0.0 you don't need to specify the famous modelines no = more.=20 The X server will calculate it for you on startup. But versions prior = 4.0.0=20 needed those modelines. Many old workstation monitors are fixed = frequency=20 monitors so you have to generate a modeline that fits your needs. Please = read=20 the XFree86-Video-Timings-HOWTO from Eric S. = Raymond how=20 to generate those beasts.

2.3.1.1. Sync On Green

If your monitor uses Sync On Green you can use a graphic card from = Matrox or=20 a Number Nine I128 based card. They have a special feature to generate = the Sync=20 On Green pulse usable for those monitors. All you have to do is to tweak = your=20 configuration files.

Search the Device section=20 in your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (XFree86 4.x) = and add the=20 SyncOnGreen = option.

Section "Device"
	Driver "mga"
	Identifier "Matrox Millenium 2"
	VendorName "Matrox"
	BoardName "Millenium 2"

	# add this line to put the matrox card into Sync On Green mode
	Option "SyncOnGreen" "true"
EndSection

If you have an older X server (e.g. XFree86 3.3.6) you have to add = the same=20 line into your /etc/X11/XF86Config (can also = be found in=20 /etc/XF86Config). The Device section can slightly differ from the = XFree86=20 4.x version.

Now your graphic card is in Sync On Green mode and the monitor is = usable in a=20 X11 environment.

2.3.2. Console

FIXME

2.3.2.1. Sync On Green

To use your Matrox card in the console you have to enable the matrox=20 framebuffer driver matroxfb. If the driver is compiled into your kernel = you can=20 add this boot commandline option to your kernel loader config:

video=3Dmatrox:xres=3Dxxxx,yres=3Dyyyy,FIXME...

2.4. Known to work monitors

This section gives a listing of monitors which readers of this howto = or=20 myself have tested and brought to work.

Manufacturer	Type	used on workstation	used cable	sync conversion
Sony	GDM20D11	SGI Indigo2	selfmade HD15 to 13W3	Matrox Millenium 2 in Sync On Green = mode

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