Best way to use multiple GUI Linux machines with a single monitor/keyboard/mouse.
by Luk from LinuxQuestions.org on (#6DG7W)
As in the title. I'm interested in finding out what is the best method for accessing a second (and potentially third & fourth) Linux machine that sits next to my Linux machine over a 1GB LAN. This is for GUI apps and there is no need for audio redirection(as I can simply plug a headset to the other machine). What I need is the ability to run gui apps same as on the other machine. Preferably with no Kvm switch(explanation why below). And just to make it harder, I haven't got full root access to the target machines (I can sudo certain things, but I need a very good reason for each use and it's usability is very limited).
I believe the choices are x11 over tcp, vnc, xpra, nx and possibly x2go. In terms of functionality X11 is perfect for me. I can run apps directly on the other machine and display the gui on my other one. I don't have to connect from the "x terminal" to the "servers" so the "servers" can be fully firewalled. The problem is horrible performance that kills any productivity (over 1gb network with latency under 1ms). Apps I need to run are an X terminal (and tmux/neovim in it) and Chrome browser (mostly for office365 apps, outlook and Ms teams).
I first tried X11 over my 5GHz wifi... That was 100% unusable. For example running alacritty terminal, switching tmux windows the redraw time of the window was ~400ms (by eye). After I changed the network to single hop gigabit lan this became substantially faster, but it still seems way over 100ms. Chrome can be barely used over lan, but it's definitely not efficient.
but why?
No doubt, people might ask "why would you need that?" so let me explain that a client I do occasional work for insists I use their Laptop to access their internal network remotely. They use Alma Linux 9 on their laptops. These laptops are pretty nice and are heavily locked down. I haven't got root on the device, I can run sudo, but only some things are allowed(so for example I can install missing libraries, but any installer that runs any script under sudo during install is forbidden). Also I'm not supposed to install any software system wide, but I can install software like Chrome in the user's $home. This is not the only client I work for and I have a Linux desktop that is set up exactly the way I like it. So I'm looking to build a work flow where I can use that laptop in compliance with the security policy, but through my other Linux desktop as a display/input device.
Anyone that has read thus far, has probably been screaming "just run openssh as non root user" since half way up this post. In theory I could do that. This would mean my terminal could do it's drawing locally instead across the network. I haven't tried that yet, because I expect there to be firewall settings preventing incoming connections and it might have to stay that way,if I fail to find a better solution I might explore the possibility.
Also I briefly explored the idea of having a Kvm switch, but first I'm having trouble locating a kvm switch that works with the displayport connections and second I have no idea how the Linux laptop will react to the kvm switch. I have a monitor that has multiple inputs, if I connect both the laptop and the desktop to it. The laptop somehow detects when the monitor is switched to the other port and changes the virtual desktop size making it a pain to use.
TLDR
Has anyone tried X11, N, Xpre, x2go over fast LAN? If so which of them offers the best latency? There are plenty of comparisons of all these over WAN. I found none on LAN.
Edit: Funny, that as a long term Linux user/advocate I found so easy to use windows laptops like this from my Linux desktop with just rdp (at near local speed) while the first time one my clients decides to use Linux for their laptops I'm suddenly struggling to integrate it into my Linux work flow..
I believe the choices are x11 over tcp, vnc, xpra, nx and possibly x2go. In terms of functionality X11 is perfect for me. I can run apps directly on the other machine and display the gui on my other one. I don't have to connect from the "x terminal" to the "servers" so the "servers" can be fully firewalled. The problem is horrible performance that kills any productivity (over 1gb network with latency under 1ms). Apps I need to run are an X terminal (and tmux/neovim in it) and Chrome browser (mostly for office365 apps, outlook and Ms teams).
I first tried X11 over my 5GHz wifi... That was 100% unusable. For example running alacritty terminal, switching tmux windows the redraw time of the window was ~400ms (by eye). After I changed the network to single hop gigabit lan this became substantially faster, but it still seems way over 100ms. Chrome can be barely used over lan, but it's definitely not efficient.
but why?
No doubt, people might ask "why would you need that?" so let me explain that a client I do occasional work for insists I use their Laptop to access their internal network remotely. They use Alma Linux 9 on their laptops. These laptops are pretty nice and are heavily locked down. I haven't got root on the device, I can run sudo, but only some things are allowed(so for example I can install missing libraries, but any installer that runs any script under sudo during install is forbidden). Also I'm not supposed to install any software system wide, but I can install software like Chrome in the user's $home. This is not the only client I work for and I have a Linux desktop that is set up exactly the way I like it. So I'm looking to build a work flow where I can use that laptop in compliance with the security policy, but through my other Linux desktop as a display/input device.
Anyone that has read thus far, has probably been screaming "just run openssh as non root user" since half way up this post. In theory I could do that. This would mean my terminal could do it's drawing locally instead across the network. I haven't tried that yet, because I expect there to be firewall settings preventing incoming connections and it might have to stay that way,if I fail to find a better solution I might explore the possibility.
Also I briefly explored the idea of having a Kvm switch, but first I'm having trouble locating a kvm switch that works with the displayport connections and second I have no idea how the Linux laptop will react to the kvm switch. I have a monitor that has multiple inputs, if I connect both the laptop and the desktop to it. The laptop somehow detects when the monitor is switched to the other port and changes the virtual desktop size making it a pain to use.
TLDR
Has anyone tried X11, N, Xpre, x2go over fast LAN? If so which of them offers the best latency? There are plenty of comparisons of all these over WAN. I found none on LAN.
Edit: Funny, that as a long term Linux user/advocate I found so easy to use windows laptops like this from my Linux desktop with just rdp (at near local speed) while the first time one my clients decides to use Linux for their laptops I'm suddenly struggling to integrate it into my Linux work flow..