Dual Head Graphics to a *Single* Monitor

cmsamo

So, I have the following:

Very small office, no more desk space, no more power sockets. 1 PC, 1 monitor.

I have to add a new system into the office, basically a network video recorder which will sit *somewhere* in the building. Ideally, I would have a second monitor with the existing PC, and I would connect it to the second video head, and display my network video recorder output on that. I am told by a reliable source that the other head can be made to display the output from the network video recorder (via some software that they supply with the kit) across the network with no problems (i.e. we already have this working)

My question is this - I just *can't* add another monitor into the office. Can I somehow display both heads of the video card on 1 monitor? Does windows provide some kind of switching or extended desktop that will facilitate this? I've googled for various combinations of "dual head graphics on a single monitor / 2 vga inputs to 1 monitor" and had no results.

TIA for any help....

Spoit

What it sounds like you're looking for is a KVM switch

whuppins

Yeah, I'd just use a KVM switch, even though it sounds like you'd just be using the V part. They're pretty common; you can get them from Best Buy and Amazon.

AtomBomb

Couldn't you just VNC into the video recorder PC? If the video recorder PC uses an OS that doesn't work with VNC I would just get a monitor with multiple inputs. I have 2 on my desk now. I normally run 2 monitors, but right now I'm installing Windows on a new box, so I have the new box plugged into input 2 on the 2nd monitor. I can still press '1' on my lcd to get to the 2nd half of my desktop.

Daenris

Yeah, since you're talking about displaying across the network, I'd go with VNC or something like that (even remote desktop would work if it's Windows based). In order to use it with a KVM switch the new computer will have to be at your desk in order to connect to the KVM as well.

Why can't you add another monitor? Is it a space issue?

Daedalus

If the other PC is just going to be displaying the camera feed, all the time, full screen, you might want to look into feeding it through a video input from a TV card, and putting that on your screen with DScaler. You could have picture-in-picture. Since it's TV resolution, though, it'd only work for 640x480 (on the camera computer, not on your desktop).

cmsamo

Thanks for the suggestions thus far.

I had thought of using KVM, but I wanted to try and avoid adding any more hardware if possible. Right now, I am at the point of using a monitor with 2 inputs, and instructing the users to press the button on the front of the monitor to change between screens.

Ideally, I wanted to know if there was a way Windows would allow the user to swap screens by moving to the far right of the window (for example) - we have some toshiba laptops that "slide" up and down when the mouse moves to the top and bottom of the screen. I'm sure I've seen a similar sort of thing in Windows where you can make the desktops swap, but I can't find anything.

Basically, the existing PC and monitor are part of a larger system. All monitors are mounted on brackets, and there is no real estate to add another monitor easily, and no spare power, given the other stuff that is already set up.

Note that actually displaying the video across the network is not the issue. I already have software that runs the video across the network via some proprietary software. I've got a system in a different location that works fine using 2 seperate monitors, across the network. I just can't use the same solution here.

vonPoonBurGer

Virtual desktops, maybe? Gnome and KDE have had this for a while, the search is for virtual desktop software that runs on Windows. It would seem pretty feasible to set up some virtual desktop software with the usual stuff on the first desktop, and a second desktop with the video feed that the users can switch to by twiddling something in the system tray or running the cursor off one edge of the screen. I haven't used any virtual desktop software for windows in quite a while though, so I don't know what's good.

cmsamo

Yes, Virtual Desktops could be the answer... I just wonder what processor overheads there are. I'll give it a try...

Daenris

I doubt it's any worse than whatever proprietary software you're using for the other setup to display remotely.

Does the proprietary software have to run full screen in it's own monitor? If so that seems pretty ridiculous of the developers, but if not and it runs in a window why don't you just minimize the window? It'll be basically no different than running a virtual desktop or having to switch monitor inputs to check on it.

focused7

I used to use synergy for my laptop and desktop. It does what you describe with changing to the other computer by simply going off one side of the screen.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

embrik

focused7 wrote: »

I used to use synergy for my laptop and desktop. It does what you describe with changing to the other computer by simply going off one side of the screen.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

Okay, that is a sweet program, but I don't think it helps the OP. It doesn't show the second system on the same display. It just allows you to use your keyboard and mouse on both systems. You still need the second monitor to see what you're doing. However, you could use it in conjunction with the input selection on the monitor. Then you'd be down to one keyboard and mouse.


Edit: Have you thought about getting a monitor that supports PIP/PBP? My Dell 24" supports it. You can have the second input on the monitor display side by side with the primary.
Or
Do the drivers for the dual-head card support switching like that? I've seen a few cards that let you do what you're describing through the driver. I can't think of the brand at the moment, though.