[ducktective]

Thanks for the summary!

Does anyone happen to know how to make a Windows machine, the extended display of a Linux machine? Both machines are on the same network.

I'm looking to use a Windows laptop as a mere HDMI monitor for the Linux laptop. I don't need gaming/streaming requirements. Like, can anyone list our options in 2026 as the parent comment did?

I assume one can use this Moonshine on the server (Linux laptop) and run Moonlight on the client (windows laptop)?

[MayeulC]

I don't have the time to provide such a detailed answer, but there are a few options.

At least on Sway (and I imagine other wlroots-based compositors) it's very easy to do: create a virtual output and start a VNC server attached to it. Start your vnc client on windows. A comment I posted 5 years ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25892128

The comment linked above is on the topic of Deskreen, which is a tool that does that.

Funilly, I also commented something similar there: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34010970 the article explains how to do it on a lower level (pretending a display is connected to the GPU), works under X11 too.

A few days ago, an update locked me out of my server. I used a cheap USB HDMI capture card to use my laptop as a screen, which worked very well: that could be another option.

Then I guess that there is this option, which is new to me. It feels like this could be a toogle in sunshine, somehow :)

[silentkat]

Yes, I do this. Got used to my work laptop being my second monitor under my main but at home use a desktop. I do it with a Mac laptop but moonlight on the laptop in my experience is not the finicky part of the setup. I do it with basic sunshine connecting to a headless display, though. I think moonshine sets up the virtual monitor for you? Never used it.

[BLKNSLVR]

My unhelpful answer is: It sounds like what you're describing is logical. Can you go ahead and set that up and report back?