external screen turned off if laptop lid closed

[Thomas Schweikle]

A laptop connected to an external screen turns off both screens, internal and external, if the lid is closed. I'd expected it to act as follows:

Laptop lid open, profile tells to mirror external screen to internal:
  external screen is mirrored, both screens are turned on.
  Resolution is at external screen.
  Internal screen shows part of or downsized content of external screen.

Laptop lid closed, profile teels to mirror external screen to internal:
  external screen is on, internal screen is off.
  Screen mirroring is stopped.
  Resolution is at external screen.

Laptop lid open, profile tells to use only external screen:
  external screen is on, internal screen is off.

Laptop lid closed, profile tells to use only external screen:
  external screen is on, internal screen is off.

Laptop lid open, profile tells to mirror internal screen:
  external screen is mirror of internal, both are turned on.

Laptop lid closed, profile tells to mirror internal screen:
  external screen is on, internal screen is off.
  Screen mirroring is stopped.
  Resolution is at internal screen.

If the external screen is turned off, and lid is closed, video output shall stay on! Not be turned of as it is now. It might even make sens not to turn of video output to an external screen if the lid is open, just because this screen seems to have gone. It might be necessary to have it run in case of KVM switches or video switches (more than one input via crossbar switch to one external display).

What I have at this moment:
Laptop lid open, profile tells to use only external screen:
  external screen on, internal off. -> as expected.

Laptop lid closed, profile tells to use only external screen:
  external screen off, internal screen off. -> external screen shall stay on!

Laptop lid open, profile tells to use only external screen,
external screen first on, then turned off:
  external screen off, internal screen off. -> as expected, if only external shall be used.

Laptop lid closed, profile tells to use only external screen,
external screen first on, then turned off:
  external screen off, internal screen off. -> as expected, if only external shall be used.

Laptop lid open, profile tells to use only external screen,
external screen first on, then turned off, turned on again:
  external screen on, internal screen on. -> internal screen shall stay off!
  internal screen is mirrord from external.

Laptop lid closed, profile tells to use only external screen,
external screen first on, then turned off, turned on again:
  external screen off, internal screen off. -> internal screen shall stay off, external on!

I need something to define what video ports are active and if they shall stay active regardless of external displays connected or not.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: xfce4 4.14
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-34.38-generic 5.4.41
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-34-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sat Jun 6 18:38:56 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2011-10-19 (3152 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: xfce4
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to focal on 2019-04-27 (406 days ago)

[Thomas Schweikle (tps)]

This applies to desktop pc as well if more than one independent screens are attached.