networking with laptop

[yaksox_yakkin]

This is a theoretical question. I don't have much idea about networking.

Say I have - an older laptop - 166Mhz, 32Mb Ram, 2Mb graphic card, 1 USB port
-and a newish desktop box ,1.2Ghz, 256DDR RAM, 64Mb Graphic card and several USB ports (but with no permenant monitor)
And i want to run RH 7.1 - is it possible that i could rig up a cable (USB or whatever) so that I was just using the laptop's display and bypass the rest of its hardware in favor of the faster d/top components.
Is it possible, or is the laptop hardware too tightly integrated? (would it help if the laptop had no OS on it at all?) It's not essential the laptop remain portable - i just need it's screen.
Would it help if used a temporary monitor to get Redhat all set up on the faster box, then changed monitors for the laptop screen?
Would it even be possible that i could use the laptop screen AND keyboard, and just have it act as a `dumb' terminal?
Big thanks to anyone who has any ideas.

[bdg1983]

Would it even be possible that i could use the laptop screen AND keyboard, and just have it act as a `dumb' terminal?

This would be possible, but the rest wouldn't.

Are you looking to find out HOW to do this and what to use?

[mrBen]

There's a really good article over at LinuxWorld (http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/0823.xterminal.html) on setting up a network for peanuts that details how to set up simple X terminals. Basically what you do is you setup the terminal (laptop in your case) to boot into X, but _with no window manager_ and then from there it picks up everything from the application server.

It all sounds pretty cool, and I'm hoping to get it all working at home soon, but I think it might help you too.

[ 05 October 2001: Message edited by: mrBen ]

[yaksox_yakkin]

Originally posted by mdwatts the 3rd:
<STRONG>This would be possible, but the rest wouldn't.

Are you looking to find out HOW to do this and what to use?</STRONG>

Hi again. Yes, I am definitely interested in finding out how to do this.
As i said - it was theoretical - i don't have a regular sized box yet but will go buy one if it is possible.
(Have been saving for an eternity - but still can't afford to get nice set up with monitor too. And - the reverse of Moore's Law - the laptop just won't seel for what I think it's worth)

So - I was wondering
- would the two be linked with a USB cable - or paralell (or is that too slow?)
- Would i need to borrow a monitor to get the regular box running - install networking packages? recompile kernel?
- I can't visualise how it'd work - like - first boot up the box and then the laptop?
- Oh and the othe thing - if laptop keyboard and screen is okay for dumb terminal set up - how about built in speakers?

Thanks for the link MrBen - am gonna go read it now.

Thanks