X-Plane Multi-Monitor Display Configuration Guide
X-Plane natively supports multi-screen display functionality. If you could have four monitors displaying the left, center, and right cockpit windows respectively, and dedicate a fifth monitor specifically for instruments, it would greatly enhance the fun of flight simulation. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many monitors; mainly, even if I could afford them, I have no place to put them. Also, driving 4 monitors with a single computer requires a very powerful hardware environment. Since iMacs do not support expandable graphics cards, the frame rate wouldn’t be smooth even with multiple screens. Therefore, here is a guide on setting up Multi-Monitor Display using Multiple Computers.
There are many benefits to using multiple computers. For instance, the display processing load is distributed across the hardware of each machine, making display speeds much faster. Additionally, you can configure the purpose of each machine according to different needs, greatly enriching the gameplay of X-Plane. For example, two people can use two computers, with one acting as the Captain and the other as the First Officer, working together to perform a crew flight. Alternatively, the roles can be divided into Instructor and Student, where the Student handles the controls while the Instructor observes and corrects the Student’s flight.
Even flying solo, you can use multiple screens. For instance, one machine can be used for piloting, while another serves as a Control Console specifically for displaying and operating other information. The Control Console can be used to display and set various instruments, communication devices, or even set weather conditions. For example, when practicing takeoff, cruise, and landing in crosswinds, you can use a dedicated machine as a Control Console to change wind direction and speed for specific practice. The Control Console can also be used to train operations in special situations, such as emergency handling during engine flameouts.
Below is the installation method. First, you need two computers, and their network settings must be on the same Local Area Network (LAN) segment. The two machines need to be able to connect via TCP/IP. Also, install the same version of X-Plane on both, and ensure that aircraft plugins and scenery plugins are consistent.
Then, decide which machine will be the Host (Master), connecting all joysticks, rudder pedals, and other peripherals to it. The other machine will act as the Slave or External Monitor, such as for the First Officer station.
Start X-Plane on both machines. Open the Settings menu, select Net Connections, and choose the MultiPlayer tab.
You will see your own IP address displayed in white at the top of the dialog box.
Next is the network connection for flight data. Open X-Plane’s Settings menu, open Net Connections,
and select the MultiPlayer tab. On the Host machine, enter the Slave machine’s IP address and check the box, as shown below.
On the Slave machine, enter the Host machine’s IP address and check the box, following the same procedure.
Then, in the ‘aircraft name reading suffix’ field at the bottom left, enter the filename suffix for the First Officer: “_copilot”.
This way, the Slave machine will automatically open its modified Slave-specific file based on the aircraft file selected and opened on the Host machine.
If you just want to use the Slave machine as a display monitor, you can select the Extern Visual tab to set the Slave IP. If you want to use the Slave machine as a control terminal, you can select the Instructor tab to set the Slave IP.
That’s it. You can now check the results of the connection. Select the 747-400 on the Host machine, and the Host will send this data to the Slave. You don’t need to perform any operations on the Slave machine; it will automatically open that aircraft and move to the Apron where the Host is located. Any control actions performed on the Host machine will also be automatically transmitted to the Slave.
The basic setup is now complete. Below are some fine-tuning steps. For example, based on the division of labor on each machine,
you can set the respective display range.
The method is in the Rendering Options of the Settings menu. Set the lateral field of view.
For example, if you want to display the front-left cockpit view, you can set the lateral offset for networked scenery to -45 degrees.
Similarly, for straight ahead, set it to 0 degrees, and for the right side, set it to 45 degrees.
Vertical offset can also be adjusted by entering numerical values individually.
Fin.