Can I use the Raspberry Pi as a second monitor?

Question

I have a desktop running Ubuntu 10.04 (which I should upgrade - I know!), which uses GDM. It currently has 2 screens installed, which are configured using xorg.conf. It includes using xinerama to act as one large display.

Is it possible to use an Xserver on the RPi as another display in this configuration? I'm happy to use any RPi distribution, but Arch is currently installed. To clarify, I want to extended my computer's desktop across the Pi.

Jivings · Answer 1 · 2012-07-03T11:30:19.320

10

I am doing this right now, however not using xorg configuration, as I hate editing that horrible file. Using this method requires the Pi to be plugged into the second monitor and works by sending your mouse and keystrokes over SSH to the Pi's xsession. This may not be what you want. However, it is much easier.

This is achieved by using x2x, which can be installed and set up very easily.

Install `x2x` on both devices:

sudo pacman -S x2x

Configure SSH:

On the Raspberry Pi edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and add/uncomment the following line:

X11Forwarding yes

and restart sshd using

sudo /etc/rc.d/sshd restart

SSH to the Pi from your other device and run `x2x`:

ssh -X 192.168.0.70 'x2x -east -to :0'

Replace the IP with the address of your Raspberry Pi.

Now you should be able to move your mouse between the two X sessions.

edited Jul 03 '12 at 11:30

answered Jul 03 '12 at 11:09

Jivings

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Synergy can be installed to accomplish something very similar. – user606723 Jul 03 '12 at 11:15
Synergy just moves the mouse and keyboard, right? You still run programs on the Pi. I just want to use it as a display. – Alex Chamberlain Jul 03 '12 at 11:17
I get an error No protocol specified x2x - error: can not open display :0 – Alex Chamberlain Jul 03 '12 at 11:20
I've got it working! And you're quite right, it's not what I want... – Alex Chamberlain Jul 03 '12 at 11:33
I'm interested in doing domething similar. What is not working? – Esben Skov Pedersen Jul 03 '12 at 12:32
This is why I said Synergy can be installed to accomplish something similar =). – user606723 Jul 03 '12 at 12:34
You could probably get the RPI to connect to your remote Xserver, which will allow you to run remote programs from your RPI, but getting windows to move across the display is much more difficult and largely impossible. – user606723 Jul 03 '12 at 12:46
Does this still working? – rneves Nov 21 '22 at 17:11

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 05 '12 at 04:16

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With a little hacking, you might be able to pull it off. What you'll need to do is set of a "fake" display and then use VNC to connect to that display.

This would basically be replicating what zonescreen does. http://www.zoneos.com/zonescreen.htm

answered Jul 05 '12 at 04:16

user606723

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Can I use the Raspberry Pi as a second monitor?

2 Answers2

Install `x2x` on both devices:

Configure SSH:

SSH to the Pi from your other device and run `x2x`:

Linked

Can I use the Raspberry Pi as a second monitor?

2 Answers2

Install x2x on both devices:

Configure SSH:

SSH to the Pi from your other device and run x2x:

Linked

Install `x2x` on both devices:

SSH to the Pi from your other device and run `x2x`: