Use Laptop as a second monitor?

Dethredic · 2010-01-07 21:14:23

So I have a laptop just sitting beside me that I haven't used in a couple weeks.

I am wondering if it would be possible to set it up as a second monitor (while keeping the laptop fully functional for a later date)

Both computers have archlinux installed (openbox on desktop and dwm on laptop). They also both have nVidia cards.

If this is better placed in the hardware section please move it

tomk · 2010-01-07 21:34:07

Neither of the laptops I've used had any way of accessing the video hardware only. Yours may be different, but you'd really need to check the manual.

Inxsible · 2010-01-07 21:38:20

Laptops don't generally have a video-in of any sorts. So you can't use it as a monitor, unless you are using the laptop itself.

AFAIK, no laptops come with VGA-in or DVI-in or HDMI-in. You only get video outs.

Dethredic · 2010-01-07 21:41:29

darn, alright thanks guys.

lucke · 2010-01-07 21:54:59

Well, you surely could use the laptop's LCD to display stuff from your other computer, as X is network-transparent, but the whole laptop would have to be running then.

hatten · 2010-01-07 21:55:50

Wait a second, as long as it has network it can be done with ssh. I don't know the details but you should be able to transfer one screenful of space by the network to the other computer to display.

Damn, lucke was faster.

Last edited by hatten (2010-01-07 21:56:36)

drcouzelis · 2010-01-07 21:56:16

Oh! I've done this before! It was about 5 years ago, so I'm sorry I won't be able to help you set it up or anything.

Basically, as long as a collection of computers (two in your case) can ping each other, then you can combine them into one desktop. In other words, you can have two computers, each running Linux, each with one monitor, acting as one desktop.

I believe the software is called Xdmx: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xdmx

The only things I remember about it are

A) It worked. and

B) Accelerated graphics was disabled on at least one of the monitors.

Maybe things have improved since then.

Dethredic · 2010-01-07 22:01:21

lucke wrote:

Well, you surely could use the laptop's LCD to display stuff from your other computer, as X is network-transparent, but the whole laptop would have to be running then.

Ya I don't mind if the whole laptop is running. I will look into that stuff guys

Minishark · 2010-01-07 22:44:49

You could always use something like Synergy:

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

smartboyathome · 2010-05-19 15:41:33

Minishark wrote:

You could always use something like Synergy:
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

(I know I'm digging up an old thread, sorry)

Thanks for this, I hadn't realized that this was even available. I have a netbook running Ubuntu and a laptop turn desktop (basically, I rarely ever move it since the battery is all but dead) running Arch. It works perfectly, and does exactly what I need.

Tsynique · 2010-05-19 23:36:23

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly but I know what I did a while ago when I had a laptop. I used the desktop's CRT as the second monitor quite easily.
What I used was xrandr command for the first time to find the names of connected displays and then after every boot use it to set one monitor (say laptop's) as the primary one and the other left (or right) of the primary.

If that is what you are looking for then the command looked something like this:

xrandr --output LVDS --auto --output VGA --auto --right-of LVDS

Only mine were not called LVDS and VGA. You can use xrandr to find the names (explained in the link below).

A step by step is located here: http://maketecheasier.com/how-to-setup- … 2009/06/01

Last edited by Tsynique (2010-05-19 23:38:43)

hatten · 2010-05-20 04:27:55

Tsynique, the first post is 4 months old, I don't think he needs help

Tsynique · 2010-05-20 04:49:52

Yeah, but the last one was yesterday, so I figured..

ngoonee · 2010-05-20 11:37:59

You understood the OP wrongly in any case, he was trying to use a laptop as a screen for a desktop, not a monitor as an extra screen for his laptop.

Berticus · 2010-05-20 13:19:03

Had I seen this thread back when it was created, I would've also suggested Synergy. A friend has been dabbling with the idea of synergying all 4 of his computers, and I've thought about doing it when I get a notebook or netbook.

Du2ge · 2010-08-14 21:21:15

(found this @ google_linux)

u could also try shifter

shifter uses a patched xpra or NX to move windows between X11-sessions and pulse for redirecting sounds but accelerates only videos so far i tested.

its designed for multi user but with synergy+ mentioned above it works very well.

sry for my bad english

Last edited by Du2ge (2010-08-14 21:30:30)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-01-07 21:14:23

Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#2 2010-01-07 21:34:07

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#3 2010-01-07 21:38:20

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#4 2010-01-07 21:41:29

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#5 2010-01-07 21:54:59

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#6 2010-01-07 21:55:50

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#7 2010-01-07 21:56:16

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#8 2010-01-07 22:01:21

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#9 2010-01-07 22:44:49

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#10 2010-05-19 15:41:33

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#11 2010-05-19 23:36:23

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#12 2010-05-20 04:27:55

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#13 2010-05-20 04:49:52

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#14 2010-05-20 11:37:59

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#15 2010-05-20 13:19:03

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

#16 2010-08-14 21:21:15

Re: Use Laptop as a second monitor?

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