Is there anyway I can set up an extra Monitor as a virtual machine?

[FuturDreamz]

what if you ran a vurtual machine on the the server, which the secondary monitor connect to via VPN or something using an Audrino or something?

 

[strollin]

what if you ran a vurtual machine on the the server, which the secondary monitor connect to via VPN or something using an Audrino or something?

If I understand what you're suggesting, it still means having a separate box. In this case, the arduino would be the second box. This would also be fairly advanced to do since the arduino is a prototype platform that the op would need to develop the software and hardware interface for.

 

[Night Hawk]

Another issues that comes up when getting into a VM for second user is the limitations imposed on many things as far as media playback and of course demands on video while the best seen now is the updated VM Player seeing 256mb shared video over the long time 128mb seen with VirtualBox as well as other VM type wares.

The Synergy app there is intended for remote access across multiple machines using one keyboard and mouse for all rather then using multiple keyboards and mice independent from each other to have multiple pcs out of one system. The largest question besides finding just the right option whether VM or software will be on system resources when both users are placing a load on the system itself as far as resources like 6gb on a case running only 4gb? which will end up stalling the works.

Simply running multiple VMs simultaneously saw a problem on the last build where 4gb was seen for the old Vista build used to test 7. With the present case that wouldn't be any problem with 4 times as much ram available and why I can run VMs and even TeamViewer for remote access to a folating 7 Pro mini tower I can set up anywhere.

What is needed here however is a little more information from the OP about the extend of programs to be run and the budget when suggesting buying or building something rather then seeing one pc turned into two. Space available as well as cost factors come into play especially if the pc desk is right up close to the bunk bed!

I have to visualize some confinement of space the OP may be facing where there isn't room to add in a second tower or hook up some other web tv type device purchased separately. And what I was thinking about earlier wasn't Rasberry but Blackberries as far as brand names go.

The ALL in One pc concept would require a similar board mounted to 32" display however modification to see that physically changed into a second pc. The link there shows a budget and fast option to throw a self contained pc together rather then a separate case, separate display setup. That would be a thought if the 32" screen wasn't already there for a fast bunk bed pc besides a laptop which can be plugged into an external display as we all know as another option as long as the integrated supports it.

The quest for a one pc for all solution however continues to lead to things like Elecom Systems and their One PC for Multiple Users

For non Windows users the open source community has their solution already found called SLIM That allows for multiple video and sound cards as well as keyboards, mice!

 

[strollin]

The SLIM and One PC for Multiple Users seems promising but also sounds expensive since you need to add additional video, sound & other cards. I'd also be wary of the performance trying to run multiple users from a single machine. If the OP was running a very cpu/gpu intensive game there wouldn't be much horsepower left over for the 2nd user.

I'm still thinking that a separate box along the lines of the Raspberry Pi or Android mini-Pc is the most practical solution for what the OP asked to do. A separate windows box would also work but also be less practical since it would require the most hardware to implement.

One weakness pointed out of the RP or mini-PC was the ability to play DVD/Blu-ray movies. There are DVD drives that can work with Android (probably RP too) but I haven't found any Blu-ray drives that claim to work with Android. That requirement could easily be met with a separate Blu-ray player.

Personally, I rip my movie disks and put them on an external drive which attaches to my Android mini-Pc via USB and allows me to watch any of my movies. I have a separate Blu-ray player in my setup but rarely use it since I got the mini-PC.

 

[logicearth]

Windows PC: Intel NUC
Intel® Desktop Boards ? Next Unit of Computing (NUC)

Windows does not require the most hardware or is impractical.
(Thing even has a vesa mount to attach it well to a vesa mount like behind the screen)

 

[strollin]

That NUC looks pretty good, the low end model which might be available next month, starts at around $100.

This model is $300 so not as practical as the RP or Android: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Computing-Gigabit-i3-3217U-DC3217IYE/dp/B0093LINVK

This model is $355: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-DC3217BY-3217u-Thunderbolt-Power/dp/B00APB51H6

Can't tell if these come with Windows or not (I think not), if not, that's an additional cost. No additional cost for OS on the RP or Android devices.

 

[Night Hawk]

I would watch it at amazon since the sellers may price things higher there then found elsewhere like at newegg for example or buy.com. Once I have a make and model for something a good shop around comes next to see just who offers the better prices!

As far the notion of a second pc without having the 32" screen the All in One pc would be a fast solution at a somewhat lower cost for a bunk bed convenience set up. The media to be played would likely be rentals whether online or Netflix if not Xfinity depending on how the OP is set up there.

The question is still where are the movies coming from? Web pages like Xfinity online for tv and movies or Block Buster, Netflix online, or physical media where an optical or blue ray drive is needed?

Besides SLIM which is for Linux not Windows which would automatically be out and the softwares found or to be found you can expect them to be up there like you pay out for a full version of VM ware workstation. The Rasberry pi gets you online but would still need an external usb optical to watch a dvd rental.

The OP would still need to reply back while I hope this thread can still be a good reference as far as the items we have been looking at. It does pose some interesting questions.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
the main problem will be with the monitor -- you'll need some sort of Wireless connection --Intel are messing around with this but it's not cheap.

For the keyboard -- absolutely no problem --a decent wireless one will probably have enough range.

Without knowing the house layout == I'm not sure of the lengths and whether repeaters will be needed.

Another possibility is to have an HDMI out from the main computer --route that into a Wireless HDMI transmitter and then feed that into your remote monitor.

Now when you've got the hardware sorted just RDP to the Virtual Machine from your bedroom.

Here's the Google link for HDMI xmitter and receiver.

Google

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Night Hawk]

I think the closest match to what the OP was asking about would be the SLIM program. If they had a Windows version a second video and even second sound card or device would be a solution as that would allow a second user to run more without taxing video and audio too far.

The cpu time would be the one remaining element there if only running a dual core not quad or even a new octocore model. A server board that allows more then one cpu would pick up the excess load seen on a single cpu.

But that again brings up the need for going out and buying something else other then a second keyboard and mouse. Unfortunately in the long run that would be the only solution anyways. For the dual display setup you would need a program like UltraMon or Display Fusion that places a move button on each explorer or program window to allow moving from one display to the other without manually clicking and holding to drag as well as a VM remembering to open on the 32" while the one at the desk would be the primary.

Why the other programs? When up on the bunk bed you wouldn't be able to drag windows from one display to the other since any VM will automatically open on the primary until moved. And a cloned desktop won't work for a two party pc either except if you ever find a Windows version of a program like SLIM.

 

[JoesMorgue]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question on the possibility of setting up a kind of like virtual machine for an additional monitor in my room. You see, I am Renovating my room, and in the process, I am going to be building a custom queen sized bunk bed :shock: And on the top bunk, we are putting a 32" LED, and i was wondering if there was anyway to set up that screen as a virtual machine, with its own keyboard and mouse. I have a Logitech G19 and gaming mouse that I primarily Use, but i have an extra wireless Logitech keyboard, that i use for typing essays and such. So basically i want to be able to use the wireless keyboard on the top bunk, so that, lets say, if im playing games on my main screen, someone else can be watching movies or surfing the web on the bunk bed screen. Any Ideas? I know that i can extend the desktop, and just drag over a movie to the other screen, something along those lines, but in that case they wouldn't have their own mouse, it would be dependent on mine.
Thanks In Advance,
Kreative Desines
My Rig:
-Amd Phenom II x6 1045t
-Amd HD6870
-8gb Patriot Viper DDR3 2133Mhz
-Asus M4N68T-M V2

Look at my specs. I do it on the TV, the hardest parts were figuring out about the KB/Mouse itself [Easy, tell the VM to use the second one exclusively], getting the mouse pointer of the second mouse to show on the screen [turn down video accelerator in XP, I think only 1 "notch"], and how to route XPs sound to the connected speakers in the TV [Still haven't figured that one out]

I forgot to say: Your screensaver is an interesting creature. Win7's screensaver does NOT care what the XP mouse/kb is doing. I use them for entertainment value, as screen burn is VERY difficult [not impossible] so if you have a SS on 7, it could kick in while you are doing ANYTHING on XP, and you'd need the other input devices to get out of it.

MOST of the time, the sound is OFF on my computer, so it's not a priority, we also don't game or anything on it very often, and the ones we do play don't need sound.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Aside from the fact that we haven't hard back from the OP in weeks: The problem is that you're trying to set up a full-screen task on one screen while still being able to do stuff on the second screen. Windows is simply not designed to do that, not even Windows 8. You're either going to only control the virtual machine, or kick focus out of it when you se the main OS.

 

[Night Hawk]

The 3rd party tools found work with Windows in seeing two users able to work with two sets of keyboards and mice by splitting the active desktop. That of course shifts one desktop to the secondary display in use. We're not talking about any VM but two active desktops instead of one. The SLIM app works on that basis.

As far as the OP he may be trying out one of the suggestions or hasn't gotten to it yet. It would be interesting to hear back from him to see how things went however. This topic is of interest since I may end up trying to set up something like this for a family I know.

 

[JoesMorgue]

Aside from the fact that we haven't hard back from the OP in weeks: The problem is that you're trying to set up a full-screen task on one screen while still being able to do stuff on the second screen. Windows is simply not designed to do that, not even Windows 8. You're either going to only control the virtual machine, or kick focus out of it when you se the main OS.

With the KB/Mouse exclusive to the VM, you can continue to use them in the VM while the primary one goes to other tasks. I've done it [so far, only tests, never anything serious.] Both KB's have typed in two different windows at the same time [on two different screens, I can test on one if you wish.]

My setup is in a family environment, so there are passwords only because of the server. What I did was download XP's TweakUI, and set many of the folders the same as the host's. Favorites, Pics, music, DESKTOP all point to the same place, so moving/accessing files are easy, so nobody needs to go and add things to one because they put it on the other.

Almost forgot. My XP is running FULL SCREEN on the second, Win7's taskbar does not extend to the second screen, so the only real issue I have is the VM task sits on the Win7's side of the screen, AND it is possible the Win7 mouse can go off the edge of it's screen onto the XP desktop. When that happens, XP's mouse jumps over to that spot.

 

[Night Hawk]

With a dual monitor situation you would grab an app like UltraMon or DisplayFusion to see the smart bar option which adds it's own extension to the main taskbar as well as adding a move button to all windows. Once you move a window over to the second display the button appears on the smart bar on that display rather then remaining on the main taskbar on the primary.

Now what the SLIM program is supposed to rather then create a VM is actually duplicate the active desktop of the host OS to see a clone appear on the second display but be configured for a second keyboard, mouse deal there for a second active user. That allows the first and second user to run what you would normally see run on the host side and not be limited by the constraints typically seen on a VM like one person running a full screen game or media player while the other user tends to other tasks.

With VMs here on both the Oracle VirtualBox and VM Wares's VM Player I never have been able to get any OS out full screen but am able to fill in more of the display by stretching the windowed OS as well as raising the VM's resolution settings up as far as they go.

 

[JoesMorgue]

With a dual monitor situation you would grab an app like UltraMon or DisplayFusion to see the smart bar option which adds it's own extension to the main taskbar as well as adding a move button to all windows. Once you move a window over to the second display the button appears on the smart bar on that display rather then remaining on the main taskbar on the primary.

Now what the SLIM program is supposed to rather then create a VM is actually duplicate the active desktop of the host OS to see a clone appear on the second display but be configured for a second keyboard, mouse deal there for a second active user. That allows the first and second user to run what you would normally see run on the host side and not be limited by the constraints typically seen on a VM like one person running a full screen game or media player while the other user tends to other tasks.

With VMs here on both the Oracle VirtualBox and VM Wares's VM Player I never have been able to get any OS out full screen but am able to fill in more of the display by stretching the windowed OS as well as raising the VM's resolution settings up as far as they go.

OK, a couple of things.

1. I don't have a taskbar on my second screen, so there is no place to move it to.

B. I don't know what the SLIM program is, but since both my KBs are USB, I just told the VM to use the USB device on the VM exclusively, instead of giving me the option each time. I just had to install the Guest Additions, and everything behaves nicely.

3. I can run XP in a window, scaled [lets me run higher res. than my screen can handle, or in a smaller window], seamless [favored on my Mac] or fullscreen [how I run it on my 8-Core]. I think this is because of the above mentioned G.A.

 

[Night Hawk]

The SLIM program is an open source gift for the Linux user there allowing you to run not only dual keyboards with dual mice but also supports dual video and sound cards each going to one user. That's a bit more advanced then the settings for any VM program since each user could be running a full screen app until the cpu time was overtasked a bit.

With dual expansion cards that would simply allow a pair of users to run full screen pc games as long as the cpu could handle the extra load. Each user is supported to almost a two pc in one case deal as far as the extended hardware support when using that program and you are still on the same OS at the same time. The SLIM project was started back in 2005 with the present home page seen at SLIM , multiple users on one computer

 

[JoesMorgue]

The SLIM program is an open source gift for the Linux user there allowing you to run not only dual keyboards with dual mice but also supports dual video and sound cards each going to one user. That's a bit more advanced then the settings for any VM program since each user could be running a full screen app until the cpu time was overtasked a bit.

With dual expansion cards that would simply allow a pair of users to run full screen pc games as long as the cpu could handle the extra load. Each user is supported to almost a two pc in one case deal as far as the extended hardware support when using that program and you are still on the same OS at the same time. The SLIM project was started back in 2005 with the present home page seen at SLIM , multiple users on one computer

I AM IMPRESSED!!

I wonder if there is a windows version of something this powerful! I can't even get my VMs sound to use the sound output in the TV. My computer CAN route video sound to the TV while the rest of the computers sound comes out the computer's speakers.

 

[Night Hawk]

Now you see why I pointed the OP at this one. The only problem as you know is... No Windows version found so far!

I think one of the main reasons is that the other OS platform can be a bit more flexible supporting two hardware sets while you would run into Activation issues due to the hardware profiling seen in Windows! That would seem to be one of the main obstacles to contend with! Otherwise this would be a positive solution for what the OP was looking for as well as being able to see a more involved project as well.

 

[JoesMorgue]

Now you see why I pointed the OP at this one. The only problem as you know is... No Windows version found so far!

I think one of the main reasons is that the other OS platform can be a bit more flexible supporting two hardware sets while you would run into Activation issues due to the hardware profiling seen in Windows! That would seem to be one of the main obstacles to contend with! Otherwise this would be a positive solution for what the OP was looking for as well as being able to see a more involved project as well.

Actually, I THINK I found a solution!

I have a USB Soundcard-Like device. When plugged in, Windows identifies it as a soundcard [no drivers, pure plug & play] of which I can take advantage of!

The device can be seen here: Amazon.com: XITEL HiFi-Link For PC and Mac: Electronics

Once plugged in, I can give XP exclusive access of the USB device [like doing multi-keyboards] and set it as the soundcard for XP.

Problem: Plugging in the device causes XP to lock up. On real machines, I have used it on XP and Windows 7 without issues or complaints

 

[Night Hawk]

I doubt the OP would be running anything XP since he is wanting to split up the 7 install into two users. At least now you will have an option for sound there however which works out for you.

I just have to wonder if the OP was able to get any further with the information posted so far since he hasn't replied back at all.