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Multiple Monitors Remote Connected?

S

-slash-

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
130
I'm trying to setup a system at my office to view data off of one PC remotely in three different locations not including the host PC location. The data does not need to be writable, I want to view it like you would a flight schedule screen at an airport. I need a large monitor in three separate locations in another building than the host machine. Trying to figure out a way to connect those three monitors to the host machine without running slaves and a remote desktop like Teamviewer if at all possible. If not running slaves can be an option. All locations have Cat5 connectivity. The only real way I've been able to find to do this is to run slave machines remote connecting to the host/write PC. Any suggestions on what I should be looking at for a slave machine? Thanks,
 
goodcooper said:
seems like a pretty simple VNC setup
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd just like to avoid having to run a bunch of slave machines and would prefer to just be able to mirror the host PC's screen as opposed to remote connect to the PC itself.
 
-slash- said:
I'm trying to setup a system at my office to view data off of one PC remotely in three different locations not including the host PC location. The data does not need to be writable, I want to view it like you would a flight schedule screen at an airport. I need a large monitor in three separate locations in another building than the host machine. Trying to figure out a way to connect those three monitors to the host machine without running slaves and a remote desktop like Teamviewer if at all possible. If not running slaves can be an option. All locations have Cat5 connectivity. The only real way I've been able to find to do this is to run slave machines remote connecting to the host/write PC. Any suggestions on what I should be looking at for a slave machine? Thanks,
Click to expand...

Wireless HDMI seems like it would be fine here in this instance.
 
I do this using thin clients that are capable of joining a VNC server at start up. So a small lightweight and low power consuming box that needs virtually no input to get working once configured. Netvoyager LX1010s and LX1022s currently, but I'm sure there are others that do it.

The VNC server on the host machine is also set to be one way - so if someone did plug in a keyboard/mouse on the remote thin client, they wouldn't be able to control the host machine :) The server is also set to allow multiple client connections.
 
What are you trying to view? Do they need to display the screen?
 
NickTheSloth said:
I do this using thin clients that are capable of joining a VNC server at start up. So a small lightweight and low power consuming box that needs virtually no input to get working once configured. Netvoyager LX1010s and LX1022s currently, but I'm sure there are others that do it.

The VNC server on the host machine is also set to be one way - so if someone did plug in a keyboard/mouse on the remote thin client, they wouldn't be able to control the host machine :) The server is also set to allow multiple client connections.
Click to expand...
Thank you, this has helped a lot.
QQ~ said:
What are you trying to view? Do they need to display the screen?
Click to expand...

I'm attempting to view one of three screens from the host machine with a spreadsheet on it, most likely Excel for simplicity sake.
 
you could do an hdmi/dvi spliiter like this one It will allow you to run cat5 to the monitors. Then you just mirror the output on the host PC.

Will be much cheaper then using some VNC slaves.
 
QQ~ said:
you could do an hdmi/dvi spliiter like this one It will allow you to run cat5 to the monitors. Then you just mirror the output on the host PC.

Will be much cheaper then using some VNC slaves.
Click to expand...

The 50 meter limitation will not work, I'd estimate my closest remote location is at that or further. Also, I do not have dedicated Cat 5 lines already running to these locations. I have up to 12 cat 5 connections per office which are directed to a Speedgain patch panel and distributed from there to a network switch or telephone switch, whichever is applicable for the connection.

I'm liking this thin client idea. I have yet to play with VNC so it will be a learning experience. Just need to find a readily available thin client that supports a VNC connection like those Netvoyagers.
 
Thinking a little out of the box, have you looked into something like a Chromecast or Miracast? They would greatly reduce your TV side cost if they can broadcast to multiple displays.
 
-slash- said:
Thank you, this has helped a lot.


I'm attempting to view one of three screens from the host machine with a spreadsheet on it, most likely Excel for simplicity sake.
Click to expand...

Where does the source data come from? A db? I might know a solution.
 
sc0tty8 said:
Where does the source data come from? A db? I might know a solution.
Click to expand...

Source data will be coming from the host PC and edited on the host PC. Basically looking for real time mirroring of an Excel spreadsheet to three remote locations with input only coming from the host PC.
 
-slash- said:
Source data will be coming from the host PC and edited on the host PC. Basically looking for real time mirroring of an Excel spreadsheet to three remote locations with input only coming from the host PC.
Click to expand...

At my last employer we had a solution that specialized in the airport type displays. I don't know if it would fit you guys or not, I can certainly dig and see if I can find the contact info. They had a server side and then client side hardware using a raspberry pi at the client end. Where does the data in the spreadsheet come from? Is someone pulling this from an ERP solution?
 
sc0tty8 said:
At my last employer we had a solution that specialized in the airport type displays. I don't know if it would fit you guys or not, I can certainly dig and see if I can find the contact info. They had a server side and then client side hardware using a raspberry pi at the client end. Where does the data in the spreadsheet come from? Is someone pulling this from an ERP solution?
Click to expand...

I had forgot about the raspberry pi, that may be a solution as well. The biggest issue I have is I would like to keep the host PC a workstation and not a server.

The Host PC/Workstation is used by our dispatcher. He will be inputting truck load data into a spreadsheet (most likely Excel). I would like to mirror that spreadsheet to 2-3 separate locations in my facility. The 2-3 separate locations are not in the same building as the dispatch office. This will allow our production managers to view upcoming loads and schedule their production appropriately without having to constantly come to the dispatch office. I would like the remote locations "read only" if at all possible. The dispatch workstation will be running three monitors and I only need data from one of those displayed. If necessary I can setup a second cheaper workstation to just run the spreadsheet software with a single screen, but I would like to keep it all integrated into one unit.
 
Yeah I think this solution would work for you. The "server" is a NUC that runs win7 and basically pulls data from a location, excel sheets should work fine. I had discussed this scenario with the dev. We had used it to pull data from a database, and populate into a custom crystal report, and then print. This way we could process shipments, automate the document generation, and limit the user's experience so streamline the process. The cost justification was to save 1.5 labor heads per year, and it is doin' it...
 
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