linux: dual mice - multiple mice with multiple mouse pointers?

Question

is it possible to use more then one mouse in Linux so that there's two pointers controlled by two mice?

or

can i get raw data like x,y from a second mouse even if there's no pointer?

Answer 1

I've found a way to do it, but it causes major tearing with Gnome.

1. Open a terminal and type in xinput (all commands should be done as normal user).
   Look at the id of the one of your mice.

2. Then create a new master device with this command xinput create-master "name".

3. Now you just need to reattach one of your mice to the new master xinput reattach "mouse id" "new master id".

Note this works but is not practical, at least until it's implemented properly in the GUI. To revert this you will probably have to do it blind, but the commands are as follows xinput reattach "mouse id" "old master id" then xinput remove-master "new master id".

Notes:
- "name" means the name to give the new master, anything will work
- "mouse id" is the id number of the mouse you want to attach to the new master
- "new master id" is the id number of the new master you created
- "old master id" is the id number of the master that was there to begin with