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[GH-ISSUE #478] Feature Request: Monitorless Server #371

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opened 2026-05-05 06:10:30 -06:00 by gitea-mirror · 6 comments

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:30 -06:00

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Originally created by @LupenWonse on GitHub (Oct 27, 2019).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/478

Feature Request

It would be great to have the option to setup a server as "monitorless". Meaning that a server should handle mouse and keyboard on multiple clients without itself participating in the monitor layout.

Use Case

A user having multiple desktop systems wants to use a single mouse & keyboard for the entire setup. There is no main system which is always on.

Instead a lightweight server (e.g. a Raspberry pi) which is always on can handle the keyboard and mouse input on the systems. Therefore a single keyboard and mouse can be used with the systems no matter which one is currently on or off. It must be ensured that only the low power device is on.

Originally created by @LupenWonse on GitHub (Oct 27, 2019). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/issues/478 ### Feature Request ### It would be great to have the option to setup a server as "monitorless". Meaning that a server should handle mouse and keyboard on multiple clients without itself participating in the monitor layout. ### Use Case ### A user having multiple desktop systems wants to use a single mouse & keyboard for the entire setup. There is no **main** system which is always on. Instead a lightweight server (e.g. a Raspberry pi) which is always on can handle the keyboard and mouse input on the systems. Therefore a single keyboard and mouse can be used with the systems no matter which one is currently on or off. It must be ensured that only the low power device is on.

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enhancement

label 2026-05-05 06:10:30 -06:00

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:34 -06:00

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@ctsrc commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2019):

I just commented on a similar issue (#447) and I'll reproduce the same comment here as it might be of use to you:

I haven't tested this with Barrier, but I've used programs like Xvfb, Xephyr and Xpra for similar and other purposes before – running graphical software on a headless server, or running software on a secondary virtual display in order to interact with them programmatically to capture screenshots while still being able to use the computer without interfering with the screenshots that are being produced.

It was a while ago since I last used any of those pieces of software but the section titled "Start at boot" in the Xpra article on the Arch Linux wiki is probably a good place to start no matter which distro you are using.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xpra#Start_at_boot

@ctsrc commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2019): I just commented on a similar issue (#447) and I'll reproduce the same comment here as it might be of use to you: > I haven't tested this with Barrier, but I've used programs like Xvfb, Xephyr and Xpra for similar and other purposes before – running graphical software on a headless server, or running software on a secondary virtual display in order to interact with them programmatically to capture screenshots while still being able to use the computer without interfering with the screenshots that are being produced. > > It was a while ago since I last used any of those pieces of software but the section titled "Start at boot" in the Xpra article on the Arch Linux wiki is probably a good place to start no matter which distro you are using. > > https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xpra#Start_at_boot

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:36 -06:00

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@maxlock commented on GitHub (Jul 25, 2020):

I have this exact use case as well. As a workaround is it worth considering 1x1 pixel virtual monitor using xvfb etc for the headless node?

@maxlock commented on GitHub (Jul 25, 2020): I have this exact use case as well. As a workaround is it worth considering 1x1 pixel virtual monitor using xvfb etc for the headless node?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:38 -06:00

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@maxlock commented on GitHub (Jul 26, 2020):

I have this exact use case as well. As a workaround is it worth considering 1x1 pixel virtual monitor using xvfb etc for the headless node?

Updating my own question, It appears you may not be able to attach a real mouse/keyboard to xvfb and additionally the dummy xserver won't scale down to 1x1. So nothing really workable yet.

edit: may work on a raspi, I'm trying to do it in docker https://github.com/similicious/barrier-headless

@maxlock commented on GitHub (Jul 26, 2020): > I have this exact use case as well. As a workaround is it worth considering 1x1 pixel virtual monitor using xvfb etc for the headless node? Updating my own question, It appears you may not be able to attach a real mouse/keyboard to xvfb and additionally the dummy xserver won't scale down to 1x1. So nothing really workable yet. edit: may work on a raspi, I'm trying to do it in docker https://github.com/similicious/barrier-headless

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:41 -06:00

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@evantandersen commented on GitHub (Dec 19, 2021):

Could this perhaps use linux-specific stuff? How does X11 read the input from the mouse/keyboard? Maybe barrier could open /dev/mouse etc directly?

@evantandersen commented on GitHub (Dec 19, 2021): Could this perhaps use linux-specific stuff? How does X11 read the input from the mouse/keyboard? Maybe barrier could open /dev/mouse etc directly?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:43 -06:00

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@Alex-bdrs commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2022):

I have the issue like this: I have one monitor connected with two PC (win and linux). I can choose PC for monitor by button on it but I don't wont to have two keyboards.

@Alex-bdrs commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2022): I have the issue like this: I have one monitor connected with two PC (win and linux). I can choose PC for monitor by button on it but I don't wont to have two keyboards.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 06:10:46 -06:00

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@epe commented on GitHub (Jun 21, 2023):

Any idea how the server could switch to a defined client by entering a key sequence?

My usecase is sharing a barcode scanner (wireless, though depending on a USB cable & charger) and making up a barcode with a sequence to switch to each client... Any ideas?

@epe commented on GitHub (Jun 21, 2023): Any idea how the server could switch to a defined client by entering a key sequence? My usecase is sharing a barcode scanner (wireless, though depending on a USB cable & charger) and making up a barcode with a sequence to switch to each client... Any ideas?

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