Very Computer

Is there a source for info about switching to or from an external monitor
on notebook computers?  The Laptop-HOWTO just mentions external monitors
briefly with no specifics.

I have a Sony PCG-F450 with NeoMagic 256AV video (SVGA X server).  When
booted with external monitor connected, the text console displays on both.
By using the normal Fn-F7 I can switch to just the external monitor, but
it will not switch back to the laptop display or both again.

If I try to start X with just the external monitor on, the external
monitor goes out, and it looks like my laptop screen is on fire
(apparently trying to use external monitor settings on laptop display).  
I can stop that by switching to a console (which appears back on the
external monitor).

So it appears that console output can go to the external monitor, but I
have not found anything yet that tells how to do that in X.

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How you do this probably depends on what X server you are using.
I don't use XFree86, so you'll have to wait for another response to
address how to do it with XFree86.  But Xi Graphics makes a commercial
X-server called Accelerated-X, which comes in a Laptop version, and with
the laptop version you can switch between the external monitor and the
laptop screen (or use both at the same time).  This is explained in the
documentation that comes with Accelerated-X.