Use external laptop with my Workstations display, keyboard and mouse. | Linus Tech Tips | Page 1

pale bear Nov 28, 2023, 1:45 PM

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I am looking for a solution to use my work laptop with my monitor, keyboard and mouse at home.
The first idea that comes to mind is either an application like Teamviewer or an RDP solution. However that will not work as I need to VPN into my workplace network on the laptop, and from there all RDP and screen sharing outside of the network is blocked.
The next obvious idea would be a KVM switch. But that would mean that I can only use the laptop or the workstation and any one time. Not both simultaneously.
The ultimate solution would be some sort of windowed instance of my laptop onto the workstation PC through a physical connection. Is there any hardware and/or other solution that allows that?

Thanks in advance

proper aspen Nov 28, 2023, 2:02 PM

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You cannot send two signals to the same display

fair siren Nov 28, 2023, 2:32 PM

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proper aspen You cannot send two signals to the same display

Not exactly correct. Some monitors have a PIP mode or Split screen that would allow you to have two different video sources on a single display at the same time.

proper aspen Nov 28, 2023, 2:33 PM

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Oh really? I’m guessing it’s not very common

fair siren Nov 28, 2023, 2:33 PM

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It's pretty much on all higher end monitors...

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Both of my monitors support PIP

north junco Nov 28, 2023, 2:42 PM

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If you could RDP into your laptop you could do exactly that

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Have a window with your laptop screen on it on your desktop

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But you’d probably need approval from your work for that solution & I’m not 100% sure if it would work on the local network with a VPN active

pale bear Nov 28, 2023, 3:37 PM

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north junco If you could RDP into your laptop you could do exactly that

RDP is blocked to and from the company network unfortunately 😦

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But I like the PIP idea. I have to look into that!

#Use external laptop with my Workstations display, keyboard and mouse.