Chapter 2. Connecting the Monitors

You can place your monitors side by side, or you can set them up in a stacked configuration. Follow the appropriate instructions for your configuration.


Note: If you have not already done so, go to Chapter 1, and follow the instructions for installing the dual channel display option board before you begin setting up the monitors.


Unpacking the Secondary Monitor

Unpack the secondary monitor from its box.


Caution: The monitor is very heavy. Have someone help you lift it out of the box.

Figure 2-1. Identifying the Cables


The monitor ships with two cables: a power cable and a video cable (Figure 2-1).

Connecting Cables to the Monitors in a Side-by-Side Configuration


Note: To reconfigure cursor movement between monitors from vertical to horizontal, see “Configuring the Mouse for Horizontal Cursor Movement”.

Connect the video cables to the monitors as follows:

Figure 2-2. Placing the Monitors Side by Side


  1. Facing the front of the monitors, place the primary monitor on the left and the second monitor on the right.

  2. Connect one end of each video cable to the connector on the back of each monitor. Connect and tighten the thumbscrews on both sides of the connectors (Figure 2-2).

Connecting Cables to the Monitors in a Stacked Configuration

Connect the video cables to the monitors as follows:

Figure 2-3. Placing the Primary Monitor Above the Secondary Monitor


  1. Facing the front of the monitors, place the primary monitor on a surface above the secondary monitor.


    Caution: Do not rest the primary monitor on the second monitor. Place it instead on a bookshelf or similar type structure as shown in Figure 2-3.


  2. Connect one end of each video cable to the connector on the back of each monitor. Connect and tighten the thumbscrews on both sides of the connectors.

Connecting the Monitor Cables to the O2 Workstation


Note: The illustration shows an O2 R5000 workstation. Connecting the monitor cables is the same for an O2 R10000 workstation.

Figure 2-4. Connecting the Monitor Cables to the Workstation



Caution: It's important that you connect the monitor cables to the correct connectors on the rear of the O2 workstation to ensure proper cursor movement.


  1. Connect the video cable from the primary monitor to the top connector (channel 0) on the dual channel display board (Figure 2-4). Channel 0 drives the left monitor with the image from the top of the frame buffer.

  2. Connect the video cable from the secondary monitor to the bottom connector (channel 1) on the dual channel display board (Figure 2-4). Channel 1 drives the right monitor with the image from the bottom of the framebuffer.

  3. Tighten the thumbscrews on both sides of the connectors.

Connecting the Power Cables

Connect the power cable for each monitor as follows:

Figure 2-5. Connecting the Monitors' Power Cables


  1. Connect the female end of the power cable to the power connector on the back of the monitor (Figure 2-5).

  2. Plug the male end into a three-prong grounded electrical outlet.

  3. Turn on the primary monitor and then the secondary monitor. The power switch is on the front of the monitor in the lower right corner. The LED near the switch lights up when the monitor is powered on.

    Figure 2-6. Turning On the O2 Workstation



    Note: Be sure to turn both monitors on before turning on the O2 workstation.


  4. Turn on the workstation by pushing the power button on the front (Figure 2-6).

When you first log in after installing the dual channel software and hardware, dual channel mode is not enabled. Go to Chapter 3, “Configuring the Dual Channel Display” for information on configuring and enabling the display.