Do you ever feel like you just don't have enough screen space? You're trying to multitask, keep an eye on a chat, and work on a project all at once. Your main monitor feels cramped, and buying a brand new one can be expensive.
What if we told you there's a hidden way to expand your digital workspace, using something you might already own? Forget about spending hundreds of dollars. The answer could be sitting in your closet, gathering dust right now.
The
Dream of More Screen Space, Made Real
Imagine having a dedicated screen for your email, a video, or extra notes while your main monitor stays focused on your most important task. Multiple monitors make a huge difference for productivity. They let you spread out your work and see everything at a glance.
However, the idea of buying another monitor can be a turn-off. New screens cost money, take up desk space, and sometimes require special cables. Many people wish for more screen area but put off the expense or the hassle.
This is where a clever, often overlooked technique comes in. It lets you use an old laptop, or even a tablet, as a fully functional second display for your main Linux computer. It's a way to reuse old tech and gain a big boost in how you work.
Why Your Old
Laptop is Perfect for the Job
Most homes have an old laptop tucked away somewhere. Maybe it's too slow for modern games, or its battery doesn't last long. But it still has a perfectly good screen, a power supply, and a network connection.
Traditional ways of connecting a second screen usually involve an HDMI or DisplayPort cable. These cables typically send video *out
-
from a computer, not *into
-
a laptop screen. Laptops generally don't have video input ports for this reason.
So, how do you get around this limitation? The trick involves making your main computer *think
- it has another monitor connected. Then, you use a special kind of remote connection to stream that virtual screen to your old laptop. It's a smart workaround that opens up new possibilities.
The Clever Trick: Dummy
Plugs and Remote Desktops
The core of this method relies on two key ideas. First, you need to trick your main Linux computer into believing a second monitor is physically attached. You do this with a *dummy HDMI plug
- (sometimes called a headless ghost adapter). These small, inexpensive devices plug into your video output and make your computer detect a monitor, even though there isn't a real one.
Once your main computer thinks it has an extra screen, you need a way to see what's on that screen. This is where a remote desktop protocol (RDP) comes in. RDP is a system that lets you view and control a computer screen from another computer over a network. You'll set up your main Linux machine to *serve
-
this virtual screen, and your old laptop will *receive
-
it.
Setting Up Your Main Linux Machine
To make your main Linux computer ready, you'll need to install a program called Xrdp. This program acts as the RDP server. It takes the video signal from your main machine, including the signal from your dummy plug, and makes it available over your network.
You can usually install Xrdp with a simple command in your terminal. For example, on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, you might type sudo apt install xrdp. After installing, you'll want to restart the Xrdp service.
Next, you'll configure your display settings. Your Linux system should now detect the dummy monitor. You can arrange it next to your main screen, just like a physical second monitor. Choose the resolution you want for your laptop screen, keeping in mind its native resolution for the best look.