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.
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.
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.
A simple usb KVM should do the trick of easily switching between the two.
Yes, I have such a device. But I wonder if I can remove it. The less things on my desk, the better. Basically.
Some monitors like the Dell U4323qe have a KVM built in, the KVM does Ethernet too.
Wow, TIL. Would it allow for another screen to be connected to it? That’d be pretty cool.
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.
Maybe I’m missing something but why can’t you use your computer as a computer?
