Use Linux as second monitor

erfanjoker · 2019-10-14 16:46:10

Hello guys, I have two laptops , my main laptop with Arch Linux on it, and my second laptop with ubuntu installed on it

As my second laptop has low hardware, i cant really do much with it so im planning to use it as a secondary monitor for my arch linux

So the plan is this, i want my arch linux to be my main system, meanwhile i use my second laptop as a secondary screen or workspace for my main Arch linux

My searches resulted Synergy which is an application to share mouse and keyboard, but im not trying to shgare mouse and keyboard, i want my second laptop just to be a monitor, nothing more nothing less and i prefer a software solution, not a hardware solution like changing cables in laptop or ...

i also have to mention that my main laptop has HDMI port but the second laptop does not have it, so HDMI method is useless
and also my main laptop has Female-VGA Input Port but my second laptop doesnt have it
i could use a Usb-To-Usb Solution or Ethernet Cable solutoion for sharing screen

i would be thankful if u share your solutions

Last edited by erfanjoker (2019-10-14 16:48:41)

progandy · 2019-10-14 17:05:03

One option would be an HDMI-to-ethernet adapter and then run a video player like vlc on the second device. (or even mpv with vo=drm)

https://blog.danman.eu/new-version-of-l … r-lkv373a/

Otherwise you have to somehow create a virtual screen and then display it with e.g. vnc.
Edit: Maybe with xrandr --setmonitor?

Last edited by progandy (2019-10-14 17:11:21)

erfanjoker · 2019-10-14 18:28:29

progandy wrote:

One option would be an HDMI-to-ethernet adapter and then run a video player like vlc on the second device. (or even mpv with vo=drm)
https://blog.danman.eu/new-version-of-l … r-lkv373a/
Otherwise you have to somehow create a virtual screen and then display it with e.g. vnc.
Edit: Maybe with xrandr --setmonitor?

Thanks for your response, what about using Usb2Usb Cable ? could it be done with this cable ? because i havnt really seen a HDM2-To-Lan Cable at least in my country (Iran)

progandy · 2019-10-14 18:53:43

With usb you either have to create a software stack similar to displaylink or create an "Ethernet over USB" connection and then run a remote desktop solution like vnc. http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/

Last edited by progandy (2019-10-14 18:54:06)

erfanjoker · 2019-10-14 19:01:24

progandy wrote:

With usb you either have to create a software stack similar to displaylink or create an "Ethernet over USB" connection and then run a remote desktop solution like vnc. http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/

Thanks for your response, can you please explain more about how can i do this ? or give me some docs to read
i have a usb a to usb cable and two laptops with given information

now what should i do ?
install vnc on both laptops ? or connect two laptops using usb to usb cable or what ?

progandy · 2019-10-14 19:13:53

First you connect your two laptops with the usb2usb cable. Then you set up a network connection over this cable. Afterwards you configure your xorg server on the main laptop to have an additional virtual monitor. Then you start x11vnc sharing that monitor. On the secondary laptop you start a vnc client and connect to the main laptop.

I have never done this, but I think this are the required steps.

Edit: Oh, and another option might be an HDMI capture device with usb connection. No idea which ones are good and would work on linux, though.

Last edited by progandy (2019-10-14 19:17:34)

Arch Linux

#1 2019-10-14 16:46:10

Use Linux as second monitor

#2 2019-10-14 17:05:03

Re: Use Linux as second monitor

#3 2019-10-14 18:28:29

Re: Use Linux as second monitor

#4 2019-10-14 18:53:43

Re: Use Linux as second monitor

#5 2019-10-14 19:01:24

Re: Use Linux as second monitor

#6 2019-10-14 19:13:53

Re: Use Linux as second monitor

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