TITLE
    Mac OS X Server: Monitors Preference Offers Only 640 x 480
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		24889
4/26/99
10/31/00
TOPIC

    Some customers have reported that after installing Mac OS X Server on Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) systems, booting back into Mac OS causes the Mac OS X Server Montiors preference to lose knowledge of display formats ("resolution") other than 640 x 480 on certain displays.

DISCUSSION

    Many VGA-compatible monitors--including, for example, the Apple Color Sync displays--may appear to have only 640 x 480 available when one reboots back into Mac OS X Server after booting and running from Mac OS.

    Fortunately, this can be easily overcome, and the solution is nonvolatile.

    From a command shell, as root, or when telnetted in as root (you must first telnet in as a user who is a member of group "wheel" and su to root in order to be root via telnet), issue this command:

    defaults write Preferences NSEnableShowAllDisplayModes YES

    This will cause the monitor preferences panel to display all modes, after you restart the computer. This will remain in effect until you reinstall, or until the defaults file generated is thrown away.

    The Blue and White Apple Studio Displays are unaffected by this issue.

    Important: The above command will cause all possible sync frequencies and format options for your video controller to be displayed in the Monitors settings panel--even if your display might not support them. Selection of incompatible formats may cause your display to become scrambled, or even fail to synchronize at all, resulting in a black screen. Therefore, make sure that your format is one supported by your monitor. New settings will go into effect as soon as you log out.

    Documentation on this system defaults feature is sketchy; the best reference with examples can be found in the following article:

    Article 60126: " Mac OS X Server: Setting Preferences "

    Also, you can learn a great deal about it conceptually by typing:

    man defaults

    Another useful and related command enables use of multiple monitors under Mac OS X Server:

    defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSEnableMultipleMonitors YES

    Article 60126 goes into more detail about this and an assortment of other default settings.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: Mac OS X Server
Sub Category: Troubleshooting
Keywords: kmosXserver

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