I currently have a PC running Windows 11 that my S/O and I use multi-seated with Aster Multiseat. However, we’re both equally sick of Windows and are interested in switching to Linux.
However, all the information that I can find on multiseat in Linux are forum posts and unfinished wiki entries for Ubuntu and Fedora, and they all seem to be from around 2008-2012.
We’re about to upgrade our PC to support two RTX 3060s and a Ryzen 9 (of course, including the usual two monitors and sets of peripherals).
Can Linux (preferably Fedora, as it’s my favorite distro so far) easily support multiseating?
Will there be any performance issues using this method?
Is it possible to isolate applications per user? (Aster Multiseat doesn’t do this, so sometimes an application can detect another instance on the other user and refuses to start…)
Thanks in advance.
What advantage do you get using one PC in this way instead of two?
Less resources needed, less physical space needed, less power consumption, no need for a network, don’t need to maintain/update multiple systems, etc.
You still need all the physical space that two PCs require except for the box which is only a small part of it. You still need all the peripherals for two people and once the 3060s are in it the power difference will be negligible between one or two PCs. On top of that you have all the inconvenience and problems that using in multiseat brings. Network gear is dirt cheap and maintaining two PCs is less hassle Vs this too.
Personally I think at the end of the day you’re better off with two PCs even if the second one is a cheap second hand one. Especially since I assume the GPUs mean they’re planning on gaming on it.
I mean, you save money by not having to buy another PC…
They practically are though once they upgrade it with two 3060s and the CPU.
Not only for saving money, as when we upgrade the PC, I’m going to be able to sell off most of the components that get replaced, but space savings is also a big part of it. We’re going to be buying an RV to live full time in soon, and the less space it takes up, the better.
Plus, we have used it in this configuration for almost two years now, and it has worked without issue (EasyAntiCheat doesn’t play nice, but we don’t play many games that use it anyway). And honestly at this point, I kind of enjoy the challenge lol
I have seen this used in school situations with 3+ seats per PC.
that can add up when dealing with a dozen+ PCs.
For home use, not much a benefit, but I did have it setup years ago for the grandkids.