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My Objective

I would like to use my laptop, which is running Fedora 24, as a second monitor for desktop computer, which is also running Fedora 24.

What I have tried and what doesn't quite cut it or: Why this isn't a duplicate question

Xdmx

After doing a search of the internet and this website I found quite a few posts which were similar to this one, all of which basically contained the same few steps:

  1. Install Xdmx on both computers.
  2. ssh into one computer from the other with -X option going.
  3. Use Xdmx to turn the computer which is on the recieving end of the ssh into a monitor using the following command: startx -- /usr/bin/Xdmx :1 +xinerama -display :0.0 -display localhost:10.0 -norender -noglxproxy

Doing so first makes both computer screens go black for a few seconds, then gives me a long error message which ends with: 

xinit: XFree86_VT property unexpectedly has 0 items instead of 1
xinit: connection to X server lost

waiting for X server to shut down 
Couldn't get a file descriptor referring to the console

Googling the error returns this blog post from July 2015, in which a user follows the exact same steps as I did except for using Ubuntu instead of Fedora, and ends up with the exact same result as I did. There are six comments on the post as recent as October 2016, all six of which claim to have followed the same steps, and have received the same error.

Fedora Remote Desktop

While this does allow me to control one computer from another, it requires that I use a GUI on the host computer to control laptop. To use the gui effectively, it has to take up a large amount of space on one monitor. So, when I want to use the host monitor, I have to alt-tab remote desktop away. As such, I do not actually gain a monitor, since I am unable to simultaneously use the two monitors for two different tasks. This is more similar to just switching workspaces, which is something that I am already able to do. Also, I can not move programs between screens.

Ssh -X

Same as above. Yes I can control my other computer, but I have to actively use the host monitor to control my laptop monitor.

Synergy.

The program actually works, but it only allows the sharing of mouse and keyboard. Programs can not be moved between monitors, so it's not completely what I am looking for. Also, I am a stingy college student, and the license fee is $20. For this price I could just buy a used monitor, which would allow me to move programs between monitors. There is a FOSS version in the Fedora dnf repository, but that version is outdated.

oneindelijk
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FabulousGlobe
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2 Answers2

5

I use Ubuntu 18.10 and this shell tool https://github.com/mrenrich84/vnc_virtual_display_linker

if you are using x11 and x11vnc in your fedora 24 you could give it a try.

I use this to make a second screen with my Android Tablet (you just need a vnc client on the second screen device).

Mouse and Keyboard of my PC are also available on the second screen.

jonsca
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Akantor47
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0

Virtual Monitor Over VNC

xdmx didn't worked for me either, however I was able to get it working using x11vnc by means of using my own code derived from the VNC Virtual Display Linker python code. I had a couple of issues with this code but I managed to get it working as shown below.

Simplified Intructions:

Please be aware of the notes and considerations at the end of this answer.

  1. Definitions: The "server" will be the computer which screen you want to extend, the "client" will be the computer (or tablet, any device able to deploy a VNC client) that you want to use as a screen.
  2. Required Software: On the server install x11vnc and gtf, on the client install a vnc client.
  3. You need to know client's screen size (we'll call them: CLIENT_WIDTH, CLIENT_HEIGHT) and the servers' screen size (we'll call them: SERVER_WIDTH, SERVER_HEIGHT).
  4. In the server, run in a terminal gtf CLIENT_WIDTH CLIENT_HEIGHT 60 (replace the CLIENT_WIDTH and CLIENT_HEIGHT with the corresponding values). As an example for gtf CLIENT_WIDTH CLIENT_HEIGHT 60 is
# 1384x768 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 47.70 kHz; pclk: 86.62 MHz
Modeline "1384x768_60.00"  86.62  1384 1456 1600 1816  768 769 772 795  -HSync +Vsync
  1. From the previous result copy what is in front of Modeline, (in this case "1384x768_60.00" 86.62 1384 1456 1600 1816 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync) and use that as a parameter to xrandr --newmode command. For example, in this case, we'll have to run in the server xrandr --newmode "1368x768_60.00" 85.86 1368 1440 1584 1800 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync
  2. In 5 we've created a newmode in xrandr, now we need to add it to the virtual screen, as follows xrandr --addmode VIRTUAL1 "1368x768_60.00" (please remember to use your own newly created mode name, which is the value including quotes in 5).
  3. Run x11vnc -usepw -nocursorshape -nocursorpos -noxinerama -solid -repeat -forever -clip CLIENT_WIDTHxCLIENT_HEIGHT+SERVER_WIDTH+0. As an example: x11vnc -usepw -nocursorshape -nocursorpos -noxinerama -solid -repeat -forever -clip 1368x768+1920+0. This will create a VNC server in port 5900 you can connect to.
  4. Lastly, connect to the server from you other computer (or any VNC client, recommended krdc for linux machines). You should be able to enjoy your extended screen now.

Notes and considerations:

  • In step 8, with krdc, it is recommended to use the "Medium Quality" option, even if you are on cable: both the "Low" and "High" quality options produce errors.
  • I tried this over a WiFi network and it works properly, however on cable it's smoother.
  • I had problems when starting the VNC server in step 7, the screen started to flicker and I couldn't see what I was doing on the screen. To fix this, I connected via the VNC server (the extended screen already works at this point), opened the Displays tool (the one that comes with the system where you can see the displays that are connected) and Unify Outputs then Break Unified Outputs (an example of this option in Kubuntu is shown below). Then everything worked.

Unify Outputs

Hans
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