how to make a computers display to a laptop

Hardware solution add video capture - for a laptop probably a USB capture card (Google "Dazzle" for an example)

Software solution you may be able to use a remote desktop connection, either RDC or Teamviewer/Logmein etc

If you think to connect your server to laptop and display server on laptop LED screen, then this is not possible since laptops doesn't have any Video Inputs.

Only Remote connection but this will work only when server is Online, so you will not see any server start screen

Masq, I tried dazzle and got the phone book, do you have a link?

I use RDP, but sometimes the server is just not responding and I need to haul a monitor over.

Tom, I didn't think so either, but I saw a tech using some hardware thing that put the display on his laptop, he got into the bios, I didn't care then, but now I think it's brilliant.

We use Remote Desktop, can see the servers well and we can see a server restart if we are restarting it. We see it come back.

Put a small, cheap, flat screen monitor on the server and connect it by a KVM Switch to see all servers.

thanks John, I do that too, but I have a ton of sites, sometimes there isn't a monitor there.

On that, you RDP folks should try mRemoteNG, it is the best thing in the world for managing RDP stuff.  And it's free.

The only practical, remote way to see a server on a laptop is via Remote Desktop. We do this, can see servers, restart them and manage them.

You just need an adapter to use your laptop as a KVM? There's lots out there. I'll try and find a link shortly.

There are cheaper devices.  https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Laptop-File-Transfer-GCS661U/dp/B001ESDOP0

That startech KVM to laptop is also cheaper on Amazon.

Doesn't the server have a lights out card?  If so, just connect to that.  (All servers should have that).

Dazzle Composite input USB device with software (Not especially a recommendadtion - just an example of cheap USB video capture hardware)
https://www.amazon.com/Dazzle-DVD-Recorder-Old-Version/dp/B001CBXEDG

Put a box like this on the VGA output from the server
https://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-Adapter-HD1882-Video-Converter/dp/B009OMYHJU

So Server VGA > Composite > Dazzle > Laptop screen

The Startech was just an example wasn't saying it was the best or anything. So yes Dan, such solutions exist despite what other Experts have said.

I have a ton of sites, sometimes there isn't a monitor there.

For the most part (as we have been doing for the last 15 years at all our clients) just access the server with RDP. You won't run into too many situations (including the need to restart) where this will not work.

As you said John, you can't see the boot screens. So remote desktop is fine is some circumstances, but if the network has failed, or you are trying to work directly on the server you need a way to see a boot screen. Better to be prepared for any situation.

The other alternative is most modern servers also offer a web based remote access console through things like iLO (HP) or DRAC (Dell), but if you aren't the one who set the server up to begin with you can't count on those being configured or licensed.

Since I mentioned a "crash cart" I should also explain that: It's just a cart with a screen, mouse and keyboard that you roll around to whatever server needs work. Definitely the cheapest method, but not intended to be portable between server rooms.

That is exactly what I saw, just bought it, thank you so much!!!!  Everyone I have talked to thought I was dreaming it.

Cool. Glad to be of help.