I am finally converting my work laptop (Dell M6800) fully to Linux as I'm running Windows the way it should be - in VirtualBox 
I have little to no experience configuring a laptop and all the variations that come with one - I'm more of a desktop guy.
I travel with this laptop but also have to use it at home. I sort of "dock" it at home by attaching the PS, an external monitor, and a hard line to my network. I then use Synergy to use my the keyboard and mouse from my desktop PC and switch inputs on my monitor to show the laptop. Works great. I can shut it down and then power it on using wake-on-lan.
With windows, I set it to auto-log on and not lock the screen and just closed the lid. I had it set to stay on when closed if not running on battery but hibernate when closed. This required a log-in after hibernation so was fairly safe but not very quick to access. I didn't want to use the Dell dock because it's big and requires the laptop to actually be flat on the desk. I have it off to the side and on it's side so it's not needlessly occupying desktop space.
But now with Linux as the host OS, I want to keep some of the more secure Linux functionality. I'm unsure how to trigger the "docked" vs. un-docked state and to have a few different settings invoked for the two use-cases. Networking isn't an issue since I have the host name properly set, but these items need to vary;
NFS mounts
Screen
Login/screen lock
This is really all I can thing of.
I think the NFS thing will be an adjustment in the mount settings and using systemd automount properly.
The screen thing was a total mess. The external monitor is a much larger size. The windows and taskbar move over the the second monitor when I close the lid, but the mouse stays trapped at the resolution of the built-in monitor. I basically figured out if I have the external screen set as Primary monitor, set the laptop to turn off the monitor when closed, then it works. I wouldn't normally use both monitors so that's not an issue. I suspect if I do plug into a different external monitor while on the road, I'll have to reconfigure the monitors when I get home but that's not a deal breaker. I haven't tested unplugging the second monitor yet, but I will soon.
The screen locking seems I may be stuck with manually locking it for the time being. I can auto-lock it when on battery, but what about when I have it plugged in and not at home?
The ultimate set up would be to have the laptop detect when it's on the home network and attached to the desktop monitor with the lid closed and have a group of settings for that condition. Then have a second group of settings when not. I might want other options, like to use the laptop on the home network but using the internal monitor or using other secondary monitors on occasion.
Home network?
Home desktop monitor attached?
The power adapter settings take care of themselves I guess. It will dim screens or suspend itself when not plugged in and that's fine.
I think what I really need is screen locking to depend on the monitor configuration and monitor/desktop configuration to depend on the type of external screen attached (or not).
I'm just looking for ideas I haven't explored yet to determine how to accomplish this.
I have little to no experience configuring a laptop and all the variations that come with one - I'm more of a desktop guy.
I travel with this laptop but also have to use it at home. I sort of "dock" it at home by attaching the PS, an external monitor, and a hard line to my network. I then use Synergy to use my the keyboard and mouse from my desktop PC and switch inputs on my monitor to show the laptop. Works great. I can shut it down and then power it on using wake-on-lan.
With windows, I set it to auto-log on and not lock the screen and just closed the lid. I had it set to stay on when closed if not running on battery but hibernate when closed. This required a log-in after hibernation so was fairly safe but not very quick to access. I didn't want to use the Dell dock because it's big and requires the laptop to actually be flat on the desk. I have it off to the side and on it's side so it's not needlessly occupying desktop space.
But now with Linux as the host OS, I want to keep some of the more secure Linux functionality. I'm unsure how to trigger the "docked" vs. un-docked state and to have a few different settings invoked for the two use-cases. Networking isn't an issue since I have the host name properly set, but these items need to vary;
NFS mounts
When traveling, NFS mounts disabled (or at least not bogging down the system)
When docked, automount the NFS server
When docked, automount the NFS server
Screen
When traveling, suspend when lid is closed.
When docked, turn off laptop screen when closed but stay powered on.
When docked, turn off laptop screen when closed but stay powered on.
Login/screen lock
When traveling, do not auto-log in and lock screen after a time.
When docked, Auto-login at startup and do not ever lock the screen.
When docked, Auto-login at startup and do not ever lock the screen.
This is really all I can thing of.
I think the NFS thing will be an adjustment in the mount settings and using systemd automount properly.
The screen thing was a total mess. The external monitor is a much larger size. The windows and taskbar move over the the second monitor when I close the lid, but the mouse stays trapped at the resolution of the built-in monitor. I basically figured out if I have the external screen set as Primary monitor, set the laptop to turn off the monitor when closed, then it works. I wouldn't normally use both monitors so that's not an issue. I suspect if I do plug into a different external monitor while on the road, I'll have to reconfigure the monitors when I get home but that's not a deal breaker. I haven't tested unplugging the second monitor yet, but I will soon.
The screen locking seems I may be stuck with manually locking it for the time being. I can auto-lock it when on battery, but what about when I have it plugged in and not at home?
The ultimate set up would be to have the laptop detect when it's on the home network and attached to the desktop monitor with the lid closed and have a group of settings for that condition. Then have a second group of settings when not. I might want other options, like to use the laptop on the home network but using the internal monitor or using other secondary monitors on occasion.
Home network?
Yes=Mount networked drives.
No=Don't mount networked drives.
No=Don't mount networked drives.
Home desktop monitor attached?
Yes=Make it primary screen and turn off laptop monitor. Don't lock screen.
No=Make laptop monitor primary screen. Enable screen locking after a time.
Connected to some other external screen?
No=Make laptop monitor primary screen. Enable screen locking after a time.
Connected to some other external screen?
Yes=Make laptop monitor primary screen. Enable second screen but continue screen locking.
The power adapter settings take care of themselves I guess. It will dim screens or suspend itself when not plugged in and that's fine.
I think what I really need is screen locking to depend on the monitor configuration and monitor/desktop configuration to depend on the type of external screen attached (or not).
I'm just looking for ideas I haven't explored yet to determine how to accomplish this.
Comment