PB G4 as an external display??

[SilverArrow]

Hi All,

Just bought a used PM G5 but haven't got a display yet. Is there a way to connect it to my PB and employ the later as a display only??? I just want to access the system profiler of the G5 and verify the hardware details. I foolishly assumed I can do that in target disk mode but proved wrong indeed.

Any ideas?

Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[Subish]

I have never seen a laptop of any kind take a input to be use as display from an outside source.

If you got a DVI to HDMI you could plug it in to your HDTV.

Got a friend with a spare monitor?

 

[Goftrey]

Yeah I've never seen that done before and I don't expect it's possible to be honest with you, if you have a TV, as the previous poster said, just hook the PowerMac upto that for now... If for some reason you don't have a TV (maybe you live in a cave) just use the PowerBook until you get a display for the G5, enjoy the G5 though! It'll do nicely, I'm getting one in a couple of months.

 

[pjo]

you *could* using screen recycler - but that'd require you to setup the app already on the client machine. You'd have to borrow a monitor for that part then you'd be able to use the laptop (via vnc) as the monitor.

edit: just saw that all you want is system details.

if the original owner had remote login enabled, then connecting your PM to the same network as the PB (ethernet cable between them and network sharing enabled) could allow you to ssh in and run system_profiler | less from the command line. I'm assuming you have a username/password for the PM.

 

[SilverArrow]

you *could* using screen recycler - but that'd require you to setup the app already on the client machine. You'd have to borrow a monitor for that part then you'd be able to use the laptop (via vnc) as the monitor.

edit: just saw that all you want is system details.

if the original owner had remote login enabled, then connecting your PM to the same network as the PB (ethernet cable between them and network sharing enabled) could allow you to ssh in and run system_profiler | less from the command line. I'm assuming you have a username/password for the PM.

Thank you for the input. Yes, all I need is the System profiler info. Could you please give me idiot_proof step by step how to run the System profiler from the Command line?

Thanks once again

----------

@ Subish & Goftrey, thanks for suggestions. Neither a monitor nor a TV around (never watch telly).

 

[Subish]

For this to work it will already have to be set up on G5 (which I know you don't know if it is or not)

connect the G5 to the network.

1. finding IP of G5

• a. Login into your router and find the IP address of the G5 OR
• b.In Terminal do a ifconfig /all to find your IP ex. 192.168.1.20 (i don't know what it will be) then you want to do a boardcast ping. Ping 192.168.1.255 (or 10.255.255.255) this will ping everything on your network. (doesn't always work, depends on router)

once you know the IP of G5

2. Type "ssh <username>@<ipaddress or hostname>" ex. ssh Subish@Awesomemac or Subish@192.168.1.101. This will ask for a password.
(another problem: do you know the username?)

3. IF you get in

• a. Type "sw_vers" for short verison OR
• b. Type "system_profiler | less" OR
• c. Type "system_profiler | more"

fyi "|" is pipe not "i" or "L" look above your enter key.

4. IF all else fails
Call up a friend with a monitor or to Wal-mart and buy one hook it up and return it..lol

Hope it helps.
If I mess anything up just correct me on this. I usually do this to a Linux machine.

 

[SilverArrow]

For this to work it will already have to be set up on G5 (which I know you don't know if it is or not)

connect the G5 to the network.

1. finding IP of G5

• a. Login into your router and find the IP address of the G5 OR
• b.In Terminal do a ifconfig /all to find your IP ex. 192.168.1.20 (i don't know what it will be) then you want to do a boardcast ping. Ping 192.168.1.255 (or 10.255.255.255) this will ping everything on your network. (doesn't always work, depends on router)

once you know the IP of G5

2. Type "ssh <username>@<ipaddress or hostname>" ex. ssh Subish@Awesomemac or Subish@192.168.1.101. This will ask for a password.
(another problem: do you know the username?)

3. IF you get in

• a. Type "sw_vers" for short verison OR
• b. Type "system_profiler | less" OR
• c. Type "system_profiler | more"

fyi "|" is pipe not "i" or "L" look above your enter key.

4. IF all else fails
Call up a friend with a monitor or to Wal-mart and buy one hook it up and return it..lol

Hope it helps.
If I mess anything up just correct me on this. I usually do this to a Linux machine.

Hi,

Thanks for the comprehensive instructions. Unfortunately I did not managed to get the wanted info because PB runs Tiger, and the PM Leopard - terminal on the PM cannot be accessed from Tiger. On the other hand, while I am not planning to use Leopard at this stage I am reluctant to erase the PM HD and instal Tiger because if there is an issue with the machine I (assume) can make a claim only if it's in condition as advertised/sold, i.e. unmodified.

Once again, thanks for the help.

 

[Intell]

If you have a FireWire cable, you could connect the two Macs, start the G5 up in Target Disk Mode, and boot the Powerbook from the G5's internal drives. Won't be super fast, but it'd allow you to get Remote Login and VNC going.

 

[SilverArrow]

For this to work it will already have to be set up on G5 (which I know you don't know if it is or not)

connect the G5 to the network.

1. finding IP of G5

• a. Login into your router and find the IP address of the G5 OR
• b.In Terminal do a ifconfig /all to find your IP ex. 192.168.1.20 (i don't know what it will be) then you want to do a boardcast ping. Ping 192.168.1.255 (or 10.255.255.255) this will ping everything on your network. (doesn't always work, depends on router)

once you know the IP of G5

2. Type "ssh <username>@<ipaddress or hostname>" ex. ssh Subish@Awesomemac or Subish@192.168.1.101. This will ask for a password.
(another problem: do you know the username?)

3. IF you get in

• a. Type "sw_vers" for short verison OR
• b. Type "system_profiler | less" OR
• c. Type "system_profiler | more"

fyi "|" is pipe not "i" or "L" look above your enter key.

4. IF all else fails
Call up a friend with a monitor or to Wal-mart and buy one hook it up and return it..lol

Hope it helps.
If I mess anything up just correct me on this. I usually do this to a Linux machine.

New hurdles... ... managed to get to the stage when the Terminal is asking for the account password, only to get the password rejected repeatedly. Went back to the G5 and created a new (administrator) account. Started all over again only this time to get the message port 22: Operation timed out (or port 22: Connection refused). Indeed, I made sure on both machines the Remote login is enabled but to no avail...

Any ideas what/where something is getting in the way????

 

[SilverArrow]

2. Type "ssh <username>@<ipaddress or hostname>" ex. ssh Subish@Awesomemac or Subish@192.168.1.101. This will ask for a password.

At this stage I get a cascade of password requests, and despite of each time providing the correct one, finally end up being disconnected with the message Too many authentication failures for name of user.

Googled to find a solution but none of the results seem to provide a clear cut answer.

Please help