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Linux: click a couple of buttons, enter username and password
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Link to video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qKRmYW1D0S0
So how would I go about installing Linux on my shitty $200 refurbished Dell laptop? Would it continue to support my USB docking station with mouse keyboard and three monitors? What about remoting into work?
I don't otherwise particularly do anything on it. No gaming or any such thing.
Yes. One question, what software does your company use to connect remotely?
All I can see is that it's an RDP extension
Type: remote desktop connection
Otherwise I didn't see a product name in properties
Chances are you'd be fine. Either using something like remina, or a web Citrix client.
USB docking station should be supported (unless it's one of those external battery ones that plug into the bottom of the laptop). Remoting into work is fine but depends on the setup. For example, openssh with rdp works fine, can't vouch for other solutions but I'm sure you could get them working.
Edit: I have been informed that displaylink docks require additional software. I didn't even know those were a thing so I don't know how difficult it would be to setup.
I had to manually install displaylink on Fedora in order to use my USB-C docking station. Its not included in the fedora repos. But it drives 4x1440p monitors
That’s true for any OS though. DisplayLink dock is software dock and must have proper drivers installed to work.
dodos is claiming that it should be supported by the distro (meaning work out of the box).
Well, hardware-designed dock station would work, sure. They don’t require any additional software. For example, for M1 MacBook Air with MacOS there are two options: HW docks would work out of the box, no software or tinkering needed. But you are limited with only one external display (Apple decided so). SW docks (DisplayLink) work great and give you multiple displays and stuff, but require drivers. And also after reboot you have to log in before dock can launch its software companion. Also, since it’s software, OS updates can cause malfunction and/or incompatibility. I expect situation be more or less the same with all OS.
I had no clue those were a thing, thanks for letting me know. Does the dock require additional software on windows as well?
Might have some trouble if it's a typec dock and the monitors are connected to it. Laptop's own outputs might also be wonky if there's a hybrid gpu setup going on, but support for thosr has improved a ton lately. Mkb should work fine out of the box as long as it's not some unified proprietary bullshit wireless kit with smarfridge integration.
Overall, I would suggest just ripping an image of ubuntu, or pop_os if you got nvidia card, boot off it, just close the installer to try live mode, and see for yourself if everything works. Takes like an hour to do, no installation required. You can even install software, except gpu drivers, as everything would be all wiped on reboot and gpu drivers need reboot, hence popos suggestion as it has them built-in. You can try remmina on it - it's the most common remote control software, supports both rdp and vnc and a bunch of other obscure protocols.