Multimonitor setup with 2 nodes

[Morgan Blackthorne]

I'm in the process of replacing my desk with one that will support a monitor arm kit so that I can finally go multimonitor. But one thing I'm not really clear on is how to use that easily with two nodes. Basically my desktop machine is primarily for gaming, but I'd also like to be able to switch the video source between coming from my desktop and coming from my work laptop. That way I can benefit from two monitors while working, while also being able to use it to game and still being able to keep track of Messenger, Discord, and the like.

I think an ideal situation would be if I picked up some kind of dock for the laptop so that I can just put the laptop in the dock and don't have to mess with the cables. The only real way to do that that I can think of would be some form of HDMI switch (or DisplayPort, if they make those?), but my experience with HDMI switches in the past left much to be desired. Things might work at 1080p, but I have serious doubts about the ability of a switch like that to handle 4k. Plus I would probably need two switches, one for each monitor.

This seems like it has to be a common use case and I'm overlooking something very obvious, but I really can't think of a clean way to set this up to be able to easily switch between machines.

[Adam Levin]

How automated are you trying to get with the switchover?  Because most monitors I've seen these days have two HDMI inputs anyway, so the only "switching" that has to happen is on the monitor, selecting the appropriate input.  In some cases the monitor will default to one of the interfaces until the other becomes active and then automatically switch, but in some cases it's a manual switchover (you have to select the other interface).  That's mostly dependent on the monitor firmware.  Most of the monitors I've used will auto-switch to a new HDMI input once it goes active (like docking your laptop or inserting the cable into the laptop's HDMI port), and then switch back when it disconnects.

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[Matt Lawrence]

My current setup is 2x 32" 4K monitors.  They have 4 inputs each, 2 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort and 1 miniDisplayPort.  I have my gaming system hooked up to it and my work notebook sitting on top of my gaming system (next to my desk).  The work notebook is a Dell 5420 with HDMI output.  I added a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter for the second monitor.  I'm not thrilled with the cabling and shortage of USB-A ports, so I have ordered a Dell WD19 docking station.  Switching between inputs requires a few button presses on each monitor, which can be mildly annoying, but they autoswitch if a system is sleeping or off. 

If you are going to use your work notebook the way I am using mine, you may want to consider a webcam and USB microphone.  I have had excellent results with the Fifine microphone.  So good that I have two of them on my desk, one connected to each of my systems.

I'm also using separate keyboards & mice.  Bluetooth for my work notebook and wired for my gaming system, mostly because I haven't found a Bluetooth adapter with reasonable range that theoretically works with Linux (dual boot for my gaming system).  I also haven't looked very hard after the first two failed to reach more than about 18".

One last thing, my gaming system is using a used 1070Ti, so I wound up buying a DVI to DisplayPort adapter.  Works great.

-- Matt

[John Stoffel]

>>>>> "Morgan" == Morgan Blackthorne <mor...@windsofstorm.net> writes:

> I'm in the process of replacing my desk with one that will support a
> monitor arm kit so that I can finally go multimonitor. But one thing
> I'm not really clear on is how to use that easily with two
> nodes. Basically my desktop machine is primarily for gaming, but I'd
> also like to be able to switch the video source between coming from
> my desktop and coming from my work laptop. That way I can benefit
> from two monitors while working, while also being able to use it to
> game and still being able to keep track of Messenger, Discord, and
> the like.

I'm sorta in the same boat, where I have a pair of 27" monitors hooked
upto my docked work laptop. I'd like to be able to hook up another
work laptop, but not have to have multiple keyboards and mice kicking
around. I also don't game on there at all. It's purely for work.

So I've been looking at some of the dual monitor KVM switches, where
you have two HDMI inputs for each channel, and just two channels going
out to the monitors, and just one pair of USB for mouse/keyboard
talking back to the laptops.

Haven't actually picked up anything yet, but would love to hear
people's opions.

I used to use 'synergy' where I had my main linux desktop showing on
one monitor, and my windows PC on the other. Synergy would let me
just slide the mouse between windows and it's magic. Just one
mouse/keyboard to use across both systems.

In my new case, it needs to be totally seperate due to $SECURITY.

> I think an ideal situation would be if I picked up some kind of dock
> for the laptop so that I can just put the laptop in the dock and
> don't have to mess with the cables. The only real way to do that
> that I can think of would be some form of HDMI switch (or
> DisplayPort, if they make those?), but my experience with HDMI
> switches in the past left much to be desired. Things might work at
> 1080p, but I have serious doubts about the ability of a switch like
> that to handle 4k. Plus I would probably need two switches, one for
> each monitor.

I think the dock would be a great solution to the cable mess,
especially when paired with a KVM.

> This seems like it has to be a common use case and I'm overlooking
> something very obvious, but I really can't think of a clean way to
> set this up to be able to easily switch between machines.

John

[Morgan Blackthorne]

I didn't realize that there were multimonitor KVMs these days. I'm still kinda concerned about 4k performance when I'm gaming, but there are some that claim to support 4k @ 60Hz, which seems like it should be sufficient. 

[Stephen Potter]

On 11/1/2022 5:14 PM, John Stoffel wrote:
>>>>>> "Morgan" == Morgan Blackthorne <mor...@windsofstorm.net> writes:
>> I'm in the process of replacing my desk with one that will support a
>> monitor arm kit so that I can finally go multimonitor. But one thing
>> I'm not really clear on is how to use that easily with two
>> nodes. Basically my desktop machine is primarily for gaming, but I'd
>> also like to be able to switch the video source between coming from
>> my desktop and coming from my work laptop. That way I can benefit
>> from two monitors while working, while also being able to use it to
>> game and still being able to keep track of Messenger, Discord, and
>> the like.
> I'm sorta in the same boat, where I have a pair of 27" monitors hooked
> upto my docked work laptop. I'd like to be able to hook up another
> work laptop, but not have to have multiple keyboards and mice kicking
> around. I also don't game on there at all. It's purely for work.

Logitech has the K850 and M720 which support multiple computers. If your
monitors have multiple inputs, you can just switch them to whichever
input you need.

-spp

[John Stoffel]

>>>>> "Morgan" == Morgan Blackthorne <mor...@windsofstorm.net> writes:

> I didn't realize that there were multimonitor KVMs these days. I'm
> still kinda concerned about 4k performance when I'm gaming, but
> there are some that claim to support 4k @ 60Hz, which seems like it
> should be sufficient. 

I just know they exist, but haven't actually tried them myself. Just
like I haven't plonked down $1k for a wide curved monitor either.
*grin*

This is stuff I like to see in person before I buy, since I'm picking
about my images. Not color so much, but sharpness and angles.

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[Morgan Blackthorne]

Yeah, wide curved monitors are definitely something you want to see first. My roommate got the Samsung Neo G8 recently, and found that the curve was so severe that it generated a screen-door effect. She had to return it because it was making her effectively motion sick. Definitely not something that either one of us anticipated.

[Alan Robertson]

My keyboard supports one USB(C) and 4 Bluetooth devices. Both of my monitors are 4k - one is 32" and one is a 42" TV over my treadmill. I have wired and wireless mice. Either monitor can be used with either my Linux box or my Mac laptop. Both monitors normally mirror - that's what I needed.

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[John Stoffel]

>>>>> "Morgan" == Morgan Blackthorne <mor...@windsofstorm.net> writes:

> Yeah, wide curved monitors are definitely something you want to see
> first. My roommate got the Samsung Neo G8 recently, and found that
> the curve was so severe that it generated a screen-door effect. She
> had to return it because it was making her effectively motion
> sick. Definitely not something that either one of us anticipated.

I'm hesitant exactly for that reason, but the local big box retailers
don't have any good monitors on display to look at, which is a shame.