Thinkpad P51 with multiple monitors on CentOS 7

Thanks to team at NCSU, they updated bumblebee project that can work on Thinkpad P51. After a small tweak, multiple monitors work on it.

First, should switch to text UI because nvidia should be compiled with kernel


sudo init 3

Then, login with your username.


sudo rpm -ivh https://linux.itecs.ncsu.edu/redhat/public/bumblebee/rhel7/noarch/bumblebee-release-1.3-1.noarch.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh https://linux.itecs.ncsu.edu/redhat/public/bumblebee-nonfree/rhel7/noarch/bumblebee-nonfree-release-1.3-1.noarch.rpm
sudo yum install bumblebee-nvidia bbswitch-dkms primus kernel-devel

Now, check if nvidia module was compiled correctly


sudo bumblebee-nvidia -check

IF it was not compiled correctly, it will be compiled automatically.
Now, you can use the discrete graphic card without much effort.


optirun glxgears # test

optirun command # run command with the discrete graphic card

However, many guys want to use more monitors, try this for dual monitors:


yum install intel-gpu-tools

At this time, intel-virtual-output does not detect displays, or if a no VIRTUAL outputs on ":0" message is obtained, edit the following two files as follows (and rebooting):

/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"                            # This file does not exist by default
    Identifier "intelgpu0"
    Driver "intel"
EndSection
/etc/bumblebee/xorg.conf.nvidia
Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier  "Layout0"
    Option      "AutoAddDevices" "true"     # Bumblebee defaults to false
    Option      "AutoAddGPU" "false"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "DiscreteNvidia"
    Driver      "nvidia"
    VendorName  "NVIDIA Corporation"
    Option "ProbeAllGpus" "false"
    Option "NoLogo" "true"
    Option "UseEDID" "true"                 # Bumblebee defaults to false
    Option "AllowEmptyInitialConfiguration" # Add this line
#   Option "UseDisplayDevice" "none"        # Remove or comment out this line
EndSection

Section "Screen"                            # Add this section
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device "DiscreteNvidia"
EndSection

Once you reboot to graphic mode, you can try dual monitors, as


intel-virtual-output # extend desktop to a HDMI-port monitor, light it
optirun command # run command on the discrete graphic card

If you run kernel 5.5.6-2, try the unmanaged version of bumblebee-nvidia, which is best for you.

References:

1. https://www.linux.ncsu.edu/bumblebee/

2. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bumblebee#Output_wired_to_the_NVIDIA_chip

2. https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/321151/do-not-manage-to-activate-hdmi-on-a-laptop-that-has-optimus-bumblebee

3. http://www.tim-richardson.net/index.php/technology/linux-on-thinkpad-p50

4. https://askubuntu.com/questions/920644/17-04-cant-detect-hdmi-monitor-thinkpad-p51

5. https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee

6. https://forums.centos.org/viewtopic.php?t=66178

7. https://linux.itecs.ncsu.edu/redhat/public/bumblebee/7Workstation/x86_64/

8. https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/issues/974

9. https://linuxhint.com/install-nvidia-drivers-centos/

10. https://negativo17.org/nvidia-driver/#Limitations_with_the_Nvidia_driver

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