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Is there any way to turn my Linux machine into a docking station? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
34 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The thing is like this: I have a windows laptop I use for work, and a Linux desktop machine. I have a single screen keyboard etc. and I switch between the two using a docking station. But, I wonder if there is a way for me to "cut the middle man" and just plug/unplug my linux machine.

I guess I can use a remote desktop solution approach on my laptop, but I wonder if there is a more "extreme" solution. Mostly since I have only one Ethernet port in my home office.

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I guess I'm not understanding the question...

You have a laptop connected to a docking station.

You have linux PC connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

You want to use the same monitor, keyboard and mouse on both machines? Switching between the two?

The monitor is the easy part, lots of monitors have multiple inputs, so you put the Linux PC on one input and the laptop dock on the other. Switch video inputs using the buttons on the monitor.

The keyboard and mouse would be tricky without a KVM switch. In theory, with a wireless keyboard and mouse, you could connect it to both machines, but you'd run the risk of using one and sending garbage data to the other if both were turned on at the same time.

I'd just get a KVM, that's what they're there for.

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I have a docking station, or better said KVM, connected to the monitor, keyboard etc. Currently, I'm switching the KVM between the laptop and the desktop machine using a USB C. I wonder if there is a way for me to turn my desktop into a KVM.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

Typicaly the way a KVM worls is you connect both computers to it, then a single monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Flipping the switch on the KVM moves the keyboard and mouse input, and video output, from machine #1 to Machine #2.

[–] noorbeast@lemmy.zip 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A simple usb KVM should do the trick of easily switching between the two.

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yes, I have such a device. But I wonder if I can remove it. The less things on my desk, the better. Basically.

[–] noorbeast@lemmy.zip 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Have a look at software KVMs, for a similar functionality.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Wouldn't a "software KVM" just be remote desktop?

[–] noorbeast@lemmy.zip 4 points 4 months ago

No, a software or hardware KVM lets you use the same keyboard and mouse across multiple devices.

[–] TripDawkins@lemmy.studio 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Check it this demo if you wish.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago

Synergy does the K and the M, but not the V.

[–] trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago

Be warned: Synergy doesn't work with Wayland.

[–] arran4@aussie.zone 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Some monitors like the Dell U4323qe have a KVM built in, the KVM does Ethernet too.

[–] Goun@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Wow, TIL. Would it allow for another screen to be connected to it? That'd be pretty cool.

[–] arran4@aussie.zone 3 points 4 months ago

I have never tired Daisy Chaining but I hear it exists on some of the models not sure about the specific one I linked.

[–] bloodfart@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

Okay, I think I get it:

Op has a Linux desktop with a usbc hub attached to it. The hub has all their shit plugged in so when they wanna use their laptop they just unplug the hub from the desktop and plug it into the laptop.

Op wants to get rid of the hub and just plug their laptop into their desktop (or into the hub or something) and get access to the desktops resources like keyboard, mouse, monitor and Ethernet.

Did I get that right?

If so, You Can’t Do That.

You actually can, but it’s a huge insane headache! Resource sharing that just works is a plan9 thing, not a windows or Linux thing.

Some possible workarounds:

Put the Ethernet on the hub. Get a usb network adapter with Linux and windows support and use that.

Get a little Ethernet switch and a couple of wires instead and then you have Ethernet when you put the laptop on the desk.

Get a little switch and some wires instead, and use something like barrier (the fork of synergy) for keyboard and mouse sharing.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Maybe I'm missing something but why can't you use your computer as a computer?

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

There's a work computer and a home computer. I don't want my work files ending up on my own computer (for confidentiality reasons) and I don't want my porn viruses ending up on my work laptop.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Plug the laptop into ethernet elsewhere in your house and RDP into the laptop from the desktop

[–] bodaciousFern@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 months ago

This is the way (as in this is what I do). Every once in a while you'll have to hard reset the laptop because Windows.

[–] HamsterRage@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

Deal with the ethernet port issue by purchasing a 5 port ethernet switch. Maybe the rest of your issues go away?

[–] Gbagginsthe3rd@aussie.zone 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Would Nomachine work?

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Sadly, no. Since I don't want to install anything on the work laptop. On my own machines, this would have been the solution

[–] caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

What is already installed on the work laptop? VNC? RDP? SSH? Anything?

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

It's a standard Windows machine. It has a ssh.

[–] seaQueue@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

Why not just use something like Synergy so you can control both machines from the mouse+kb at your desktop? Just enable the software when you need to and you can move the mouse off the edge of the screen and onto the other machine as if it were a second monitor. That's what I do with laptop + desktop setups. Get a small cheap Ethernet switch so you can plug both machines in.

[–] trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago

Synergy doesn't work with Wayland, sadly.

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

There are two issues here:

  1. I have only one monitor
  2. I would like to avoid the risk of copying files between the computer
[–] TripDawkins@lemmy.studio 0 points 4 months ago

That is a remarkable tool. Here is a demo.

[–] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

Not exactly what you're asking but it could help.

Say you want to always use your desktop as the main device. You would plug everything onto the desktop, and have the laptop only plugged into the monitor (this is easier if you have two monitors so you can make one of them be forever desktop and the other forever laptop, so you don't have to keep switching the monitor inputs).

You will install Barrier on both of them, then configure your desktop to be the server and the laptop to connect to it. So for example suppose you keep your laptop to the right of the main screen, if you configure this properly you will be able to move your mouse from your monitor (desktop) to the laptop screen and click and write there even though the mouse and keyboard are plugged onto the desktop.

From there it's a quick jump to having both plugged onto the same monitor and switching the input and moving the mouse right until it shows up.

Now this is not perfect, but it lets you use both PCs without a KVM. But just so you know I used this for a couple of years and bought a KVM and have never looked back, so since you're already using a KVM this might feel janky or slow, but give it a try.

[–] REdOG@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Synergy is a software K~~v~~M. Connect as many computers as you want into one: seamless mouse and keyboard between all of them.

https://symless.com/synergy

[–] michel@friend.ketterle.ch 1 points 4 months ago

@a_new_sad_me
That is a really cool idea! If you find a solution, please let me know.

[–] dingdongitsabear@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago

https://lemmy.ml/post/14792804

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Yes, you got it right.

Thanks for the answer, I suspected that this would be the case from the suggestions, but thanks for explaining.

I saw that someone did that, but it's too much of digging into his explanation for me to manage to do it.

[–] a_new_sad_me@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Hi,

Sadly, it appears that doing this requires skills way overy limit. But maybe this would be useful for you.

https://lemmy.ml/comment/11546925