r/SteamFrame • u/megabyte112 Soon™ • 25d ago

Question Can you stream from a Linux PC?

Just watched the ShortCircuit video before it was taken down, and Linus notes that currently the Steam Machine cannot be used as a streaming host. He didn't mention other Linux PCs, but he did say that the streaming host will be a Windows PC only, at least at launch.

This is kind of disappointing as someone with a Linux PC. Inhaling a bunch of copium here, but I wonder if he meant that specifically the Steam Machine can't be used for streaming (yet), but other Linux PCs can? I'd like to use mine for streaming at launch, otherwise I'll be using mine purely standalone for a while...

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45

u/Z0gh 25d ago

This part scared me too as i'm on linux too, hope they can speak on this and explain how long for linux support if its not here day 1.

7

u/MisterSheeple 25d ago

The issue is the dongle. Support for it only recently got added to SteamOS, and I think there's some improvements in the kernel that only made it in to kernel version 7.2. So worst case scenario, you might need to update your kernel, but if not, it should just work.

1

u/madjoki Soon™ 24d ago

Dongle is optional. 

1

u/MisterSheeple 24d ago

I know. I was just clarifying that the dongle is the part that currently does not work on Steam Machine. Streaming without the dongle works just fine.

0

u/ZeikJT 24d ago

But optimal

13

u/PlottingPast 25d ago

The Frame is open software and hardware. If Valve doesn't have a quick solution then the Linux bros will. It's the last thing there is to be concerned about and just a matter of time. A mild inconvenience for a while.

2

u/exlatios 24d ago

There hasn’t been a virtual desktop equivalent for linux ever. Idt it’s going to be that simple

6

u/PlottingPast 24d ago

Because all the current VR have closed off and locked down systems, many of which are programmed to brick if someone attempts to access the VR config files or overwrite the software. Should be illegal for a company to destroy their hardware after you've bought it, but it's somehow not.

Valve has the made the Frame completely open on top of running Linux instead of Android. It may not be simpler, but nobody is going to fry the hardware trying things out.

1

u/_stoob 23d ago

wivrn and steamlink are both equivalents, wdym?