Setting up multiple screens with Linux is not quite as simple as either Windows or Mac, but it is not exactly difficult – just the typical Linux approach.
This guide is written around Ubuntu, but other flavors should be similar.
DisplayLink
DisplayLink is the technology that allows Virtual Display Interface over USB. Once their own organization, they are now under the Synaptics HID I/O umbrella.
Standalone Installer
This is the simpler of the two methods.
From the Synaptics website, scroll down to “Latest Official Driver” and download it.
https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads/ubuntu
Once downloaded, extract the ZIP file.
Release Notes
Read the full ReleaseNotes.txt for more background, but the essential section is “F”.
Note, an older/more verbose version of the instructions can be found at: https://support.displaylink.com/knowledgebase/articles/684649
F. How to install
To install the release, from a terminal window, with root permissions use the command:
sudo ./displaylink-driver-XXXX.run
Where displaylink-driver-XXXX.run is the name of the extracted DisplayLink driver.
The dkms framework is required for installation of DisplayLink. This can be installed with the command: sudo apt-get install dkms
More detailed information on installation can be found at http://support.displaylink.com/knowledgebase/articles/615714#ubuntu
Terminal Installer (Repository)
If you choose to be so inclined, you may install the DisplayLink driver using the Repository Method outlined at https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads/ubuntu .
Scroll down and download the “Synaptics APT Repository for Ubuntu LTS”. This will download a “synaptics-repository-keyring.deb” file to a location of your choice.
Then, open Terminal and run “sudo apt install <PATH>/synaptics-repository-keyring.deb” to add the debian keyring to your system’s repository list.
Then, update your APT Cache using “sudo apt update”.
Finally, you should be able to run “sudo apt install displaylink-driver” to install the DisplayLink Drivers.
Configuring Displays
Configuring the displays in Linux is very similar to Windows. Right-Click the Desktop, select Display Settings, and then you can drag and configure the displays as neccesary.
