Using a PC screen, keyboard and mouse

[Leif Jonson]

Hi,
Is it possible to use the screen, keyboard and mouse on a PC (I have a Surface PC) when using the Raspberry Pi?

Kind Regards
Leif

[gerdesj]

Yes

Hardware: Provided your screen has a HDMI input (if not, there are HDMI to DVI converters available). Also your mouse and keyboard should have USB connectors.

Now if what you actually mean is: "can I somehow control my Pi on another machine" then also yes! You have several options.

Command prompt only: You will need a terminal emulator app on your Surface (I can't be bothered to look in MSs appstore) You need something that supports SSH (Secure SHell) and optionally but not recommended - telnet. raspian - out of the box - will start a sshd (Secure SHell Daemon). You then need to find the IP address of your Pi - have a look on your home router or post back here for assistance on finding your Pi. Now using the app connect to the IP address of your Pi. The default username and password are pi/raspberry.

GUI: You have several options here. The first is classic Unix. You install a X server app on your Surface (I'm joking here, it probably does not exist) and then setup XDM and XDMCP on your Pi. Alternatively you setup the sshd to allow X forwarding (see /etc/ssh/sshd_config towards the bottom), set your DISPLAY variable (a good ssh client will do this already. Start your X server and then run startx on the Pi.

A realistic option is to look into VNC and possibly RDP. VNC is easier to setup. You need to find and install the vnc server component on your Pi and then have a VNC client app on your Surface. Search "debian vnc" or "raspberry pi remote access vnc" or similar to get some hints on how to do this. Another handy search term is "headless". Post back if you get really stuck.

Cheers
Jon

[JimmyN]

Hi,
Is it possible to use the screen, keyboard and mouse on a PC (I have a Surface PC) when using the Raspberry Pi?

Kind Regards
Leif

If they are both in the same location you could use a KVM switch to use the same keyboard, display and mouse on either system.

If you have a second monitor for the RPi and room on your desk for it, you could use Synergy (software) to share the keyboard and mouse, plus the clipboard would also share across the two systems so you can cut/copy/paste back and forth between the RPi and the PC. That method wouldn't require any additional cables or hardware.

If the RPi is remote from the PC then you'll want to look at VNC or RDP.