testsAndMisc/linux_configuration/scripts/gaming

Dual Steam Accounts (same PC, two monitors)

Runs a second Steam instance as player2 on HDMI-0, alongside your main session on DP-0. Both accounts play simultaneously with full GPU acceleration — no VT switching needed.

One-time setup (fresh install)

1. Create the player2 user:

sudo useradd -m -G audio,video,input -s /bin/bash player2
sudo passwd player2

2. Install dependencies:

sudo pacman -S xorg-xhost

3. Add passwordless sudoers rule (allows launching Steam as player2 without a prompt):

echo "kuhy ALL=(player2) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/steam" | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/player2-steam
sudo chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/player2-steam

4. Symlink the script into PATH:

sudo ln -sf ~/testsAndMisc/linux_configuration/scripts/gaming/start-player2.sh /usr/local/bin/start-player2

5. Start the getty on tty2 (needed if LightDM autologin is configured, otherwise tty2 has no login prompt):

sudo systemctl enable getty@tty2

Usage

start-player2

A Steam window opens as player2. Drag it to HDMI-0 and log into the second account. Click whichever monitor you want to control — no switching needed.

To stop: close the Steam window or pkill -u player2 -f steam.

How it works

• Steam is launched as player2 via sudo -H -u player2 steam on DISPLAY=:0 (your main X session).
• Because player2 has a separate home directory (~/.local/share/Steam/), the two Steam instances don't conflict — different PID locks, different configs, different accounts.
• xhost +local: grants local users access to your X display.
• Full GPU acceleration since there is no nesting — both instances hit the hardware directly.

Monitor layout

Output	Resolution	Session
DP-0	3840×2160	kuhy (main)
HDMI-0	2560×1440	player2