Use windows laptop as second screen to Ubuntu laptop

Question

I'm using Ubuntu & I want to use my old windows 7 laptop as second monitor. I've come across a couple of questions around similar issue but none that are specific to my configuration. I'd really appreciate if someone can suggest a solution for this.

Solution 1

These are some references to get you started:

Extend Desktop to Monitor over LAN

Extend Linux Desktop to another X Windows Display:

https://superuser.com/questions/71794/extend-linux-desktop-to-another-x-windows-display

DMX HOmepage:

http://dmx.sourceforge.net/

Solution 2

Virtual Monitor Over VNC

xdmx didn't worked for me, 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

5. 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
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. 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.

Comments

[Rinzwind]

What do you mean with "use my old windows 7 laptop as second monitor"? Ubuntu is on another system?

[Louis Matthijssen]

I guess he wants to use his laptop's built-in screen as a secondary monitor using software. Like this.

[mindreader]

That's right.. I'm looking for something like maxivista but free

[TamaMcGlinn]

what is gtf ? sudo apt install gtf didn't find anything, and it seems too short an acronym to find by googling.

[Hans]

Hi, GTF is a tool for calculating VESA GTF modes manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/bionic/man1/gtf.1.html. Please check if you have it installed already by issuing man gtf in a terminal.