Display Extension through Linux?
 

Hi,
What I'm wondering is if it is possible to run an application under Linux that would allow me to output the display from my Windows computer on a Linux computer on the same network (namely PS3 running Linux) connected to it's own monitor (my HDTV). I would like to be able to watch media and play games on my Windows computer and output to my TV without having to connect directly. I know I could run a long VGA cable to the back of the TV, and that's probably what I'll have to do, but I'm just wondering if there is an easier and more convenient way.
Thanks,

I'm assuming your TV is physically closer to the Linux box than the "Winders" one is -- or else you wouldn't be asking this Q. :)

The basic answer is yes, the problem is how.

We need to know:

• What ver. of "Winders"?
• How far is the TV from the "Winders" box?
• Do you need to control "Winders" form the Linux box, or can you do that w/ a KVM or by moving back to it?

What about vnc or something like that?

The Windows computer is running Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 2). The Windows computer isn't all that far from the TV, just a couple of meters, but there's a door between that would make running a VGA cable around annoying. As I said, the computers would be on the same network.
I would not need to control the Windows computer through Linux, I could navigate Windows with a wireless keyboard and mouse connected to the Windows computer.
Thanks,

Your problem could be much more difficult. -- You're almost cheating by using the wireless controls.

As I see it, this divides into 2 sub-problems:

1. Sending the XP video signal (only) over the LAN to the Linux box.
2. Getting the Linux box to send the XP video signal on to the HDTV.

To solve 1) you will need an Xclient, yes client not server -- X names things "backwards", on XP. You have an abundance of choices. (Google "windows x client" to see.)

The things to remember in choosing are that you don't need controls, just the video; & you have a relatively fast connection. BTW, how fast is your LAN? Many of the products are trying to work well over the 'Net not just at DSL speeds, but even on IDSN or even cell phones.

Roughly your choice is between:

• One of the VNC's
• Cygwin
• FreeNX
• Something else

Perhaps someone w/ experience w/ these will step in w/ some advice. I hope they will remember that your main criteria seem to be ease of installation, use, & maintenance; NOT speed. Let me emphasize:

• Video only.
• LAN speed at least 10Mbps, probably 100.

This article http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8477 looks like promising background, although I have not read it all & I suspect that 1 of the VNC's, not FreeNX, is the right solution for you.


As for 2), I know it is relatively easy to do -- consider all the 2-headed cards out there. In fact you may have 1 & already know how to use it. I hope so, because I never have had the occasion to use 1, or even 2 cards w' separate outputs. How are you planning to drive the HDTV & do you already know how to do that?

I guess I forgot to mention, the Linux box will be a Playstation 3 running Yellow Dog Linux or Fedora Core 5, and hooked up to the HDTV via HDMI (Linux is supported on the PS3, the only caveat is that it does not get access to some resources such as the GPU, so is not completely up to speed; I think the standard computer equivilant would be about a 3.0 GHZ Power PC with 256 MB of RAM). My LAN speed is 100 Mbps, and I'm hoping that I would be able to achieve some speed on the connection - so perhaps I could play some games (not Counter Strike or anything that fast paced, but maybe World of Warcraft). I've looked up VNC and it looks promising, and I'll look up Cygwin and FreeNX. Thanks for all your help.

You're very welcome.

Please post back here w/ any further Q's; I am probably at the limit of my expertise, but someone will be able to help.

When it's all done, tell us what you did -- it may help the next person.