android external display

NXD: aNdroid eXternal Display

Open source solution to use android devices as external display on linux.

Requirements

Main device (linux machine - server)

• x11 (x11vnc) (xorg only for now, sorry wayland users)
• adb
• [optional] arandr, needed to be able to move the display around

Secondary device (android device - client)

• termux
• sshd
• bVNC (or any other VNC Client that handles "vnc://" links)

How to use NXD

1. Start the SSH server on the android client.
   In termux, run: sshd.
2. Be sure to be able to successfully connect to the it from the linux machine:

ssh {CLIENT_IP} -p 8022

If not, setup a secure authentication method (instructions)

1. Connect the android client to the linux machine through adb (guide)
2. [Optional] You can even connect them through adb wirelessly: adb connect {CLIENT_IP}
3. Be sure that the android device is unlocked, then execute NXD:

./nxd

Issues

• No virtual display is found: xrandr: cannot find output "VIRTUAL1"
  The solution would be to create this file /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
  with the following content:

Section "Device"
    Identifier "intelgpu0"
    Driver "intel"
    Option "VirtualHeads" "2"
EndSection

and the logout/re-login.

Credits

• linux-second-screen