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Use Sunshine on the gaming PC and Moonlight on the Linux device. Install Sunshine for the host operating system, install Moonlight on Linux, connect both machines to the same network, pair them with Moonlight’s PIN, and launch a game or desktop session. Get local streaming stable before attempting internet access; remote streaming adds router or VPN-style networking and security decisions.
Sunshine is a self-hosted game-stream host for Moonlight, while Moonlight is the receiving client. The projects are separate applications, so installing only one of them cannot create a working stream. The current Sunshine documentation describes support for Linux KMS, X11 and Wayland capture paths, but the exact result depends on the host package, GPU encoder, compositor and client hardware.
What Sunshine and Moonlight each do
Sunshine runs on the computer that owns the games. It captures the host’s display, encodes video and audio, and accepts input from a remote client. Moonlight runs on the Linux computer, decodes the stream, displays it, and sends controller, keyboard and mouse input back to Sunshine.
LizardByte describes Sunshine as “a self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight” in its project documentation: Sunshine overview and compatibility documentation. Moonlight’s Linux client is listed in the project’s Setup Guide.
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The host does the demanding rendering and encoding. The Linux client therefore needs reliable network access and hardware video decoding, especially for H.264, but it does not need to match the gaming PC’s graphics performance.
What you need before installing
- A gaming PC that can run the games and Sunshine.
- A Linux computer, handheld or other device that can install Moonlight and decode the selected video codec.
- Both devices on the same local network for the first pairing.
- A browser on the host or another computer that can reach Sunshine’s web configuration interface.
- A controller, keyboard or mouse connected to the Linux client if you plan to use those inputs.
Moonlight says most PCs made since around 2010 should work, although older systems may not sustain 60 frames per second without lag. That is project guidance rather than an independent benchmark or guarantee. Decode capability, network quality and the host’s encoder matter as much as the host’s age.
Install Sunshine on the gaming PC
Choose the package that matches the host distribution. LizardByte maintains current instructions for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Arch, Alpine and other systems in its Sunshine getting-started guide. Package choice affects which display-capture paths are available.
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|---|---|---|
| Debian or Ubuntu | Use the stable repository for releases, the beta repository for prereleases, or install a downloaded DEB package as described by LizardByte. | After the repository is configured, install the sunshine package with the distribution package manager. |
| Fedora or openSUSE | Use the documented Cloudsmith repository and the distribution package manager. | Follow the repository instructions for the exact distribution version. |
| Arch | Use the Arch package path documented by LizardByte. | The LizardByte prebuilt Arch package is documented as built with CUDA support. |
| Flatpak | Install Sunshine from Flathub. | Run the required post-install script that synchronizes privileged host udev rules after installation or updates. Flatpak does not support KMS capture. |
| AppImage | Download and run the AppImage described in LizardByte’s guide. | AppImage does not support KMS capture. |
If KMS capture is important to your setup, prefer a distribution-specific package when one is available. The Flatpak listing also notes that Sunshine’s web interface uses a self-signed certificate, so a browser certificate warning is expected when you first open it: Sunshine on Flathub.
Debian and Ubuntu installation
Open the LizardByte guide, select your exact distribution and release, and configure either the stable or beta repository. Once that repository is configured, install the package with your normal package manager, for example sudo apt install sunshine. A downloaded DEB is an alternative when you do not want to add a repository. Keep the package source consistent with the capture mode and update policy you intend to use.
Fedora and openSUSE installation
The guide provides Cloudsmith repository instructions and the corresponding package-manager steps. Match the repository to the distribution release rather than copying commands for another version. Reboot or log out only when the distribution or desktop environment requires it; Sunshine itself should be tested immediately after installation through its web interface.
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Flatpak and AppImage considerations
Use Flatpak or AppImage when their isolation or portability is more important than KMS capture. Flatpak requires an additional script to synchronize privileged udev rules. Run it after every installation or update when the guide instructs you to do so, and resolve any reported error before launching Sunshine. Neither Flatpak nor AppImage supports KMS capture, so choose a native package if that backend is a requirement.
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For an NVIDIA GPU, CUDA support must be selected when Sunshine is built. Installing CUDA after a locally built or third-party-built Sunshine package does not retrofit CUDA into that existing binary. The LizardByte prebuilt Arch package is specifically documented as already built with CUDA support; do not assume the same for every package from another source.
Start Sunshine and secure the web interface
- Start Sunshine using the launcher or service method provided for your package.
- Open the Sunshine web interface in a browser on the host. The address and port are shown in the getting-started documentation for your installation.
- Accept the browser warning if you are connecting to the local self-signed certificate and you trust that local machine.
- Create the Sunshine account requested on first launch.
- Use a strong, unique password and do not expose the configuration interface directly to the public internet.
The Moonlight setup documentation warns that anyone who can access the Sunshine interface can add clients capable of accessing the computer remotely. Treat the account as an administrator credential. Keep the interface restricted to your local network or to a securely managed private network.
Install Moonlight on Linux
Install the Moonlight PC client using the Linux method listed in the project’s Setup Guide. The guide covers Linux as a supported PC client platform and provides the current distribution-specific options.
After installation, start Moonlight on the Linux device. For initial pairing, connect the Linux device and the gaming PC to the same local network. A wired host connection and a strong client Wi-Fi connection make troubleshooting easier than beginning over the internet.
How do I pair Moonlight with Sunshine?
- Launch Moonlight on Linux and wait for it to discover the Sunshine host.
- If the host does not appear, choose the option to add a computer manually and enter the host’s local IP address.
- Select the discovered or manually added host. Moonlight displays a pairing PIN.
- Open Sunshine’s web interface on the host and submit that PIN on the pairing or PIN page.
- Return to Moonlight and wait for the host to become available.
- Choose a listed application and start a short test session.
Sunshine includes Steam and Remote Desktop by default. You can add other applications from the Sunshine web interface, specifying the executable and any launch parameters required by that program. Start with one known game or the desktop so that you can separate pairing problems from game-specific problems.
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If automatic discovery fails
- Confirm that both devices are on the same network and not isolated by a guest-network setting.
- Check the host’s local IP address and add it manually in Moonlight.
- Verify that Sunshine is running and that the host firewall allows its local streaming traffic.
- Open Sunshine’s Troubleshooting tab and inspect its logs for warnings and errors.
Do not configure internet port forwarding until local discovery or manual-IP pairing works. Remote networking cannot fix a host service that is not functioning on the local network.
What network connection do you need?
Moonlight recommends a mid-to-high-end wireless router, a good client connection over 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and a wired connection from the gaming PC to the router. These are recommendations, not a promise that a particular router or cable will solve every problem.
| Link | Preferred starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming PC to router | Wired Ethernet where practical | Whether the PC is actually using the wired interface rather than Wi-Fi. |
| Linux client to router | Strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 connection | Signal strength, interference, band selection and whether the client is roaming between access points. |
| Router | Mid-to-high-end wireless router | Whether it can maintain a stable connection for both devices without guest-network isolation. |
If the host needs a physical link, an Ethernet cable is a practical first check; a Cat 6 cable is a reasonable choice when replacing an old or damaged cable. Consider a Wi-Fi 6 router only if your existing wireless network is the limiting factor. Test the equipment you already own before buying upgrades.
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Diagnose network symptoms
- Video freezes while audio continues: inspect packet loss, Wi-Fi signal and host uplink before changing game settings.
- Input feels delayed: test with the host wired, move the client closer to the access point and reduce competing network traffic.
- Moonlight cannot see the host: check network isolation, firewall rules and the host IP address.
- Quality changes during play: look for unstable Wi-Fi or congestion rather than assuming the GPU is too slow.
Move from local streaming to remote streaming
First pair and test on the local network. Internet streaming is a separate configuration step. Depending on your route, Moonlight’s guide describes automatic setup and alternatives that can involve host-side configuration, router port forwarding or a VPN-style private network tool.
Remote access increases the importance of Sunshine’s account security and firewall rules. Do not publish the web configuration interface simply because streaming from outside the home is desired. Expose only the streaming path required by the networking method you have chosen, and keep administrative access restricted.
Linux capture backends and package choice
Sunshine’s current compatibility documentation lists Linux support for KMS capture, X11 and Wayland, with differences by encoder and capture backend. The compatibility table is marked as a work in progress, so it should not be treated as a definitive hardware-buying matrix. Read the entry for your GPU, desktop session and package before changing hardware.
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KMS is especially relevant when you need a capture path that works independently of a traditional X11 desktop. Because Flatpak and AppImage do not support KMS capture, a native DEB, RPM or other distribution-specific package is the safer starting point when KMS is required.
X11 and Wayland checks
- Identify whether the host desktop session is X11 or Wayland.
- Check Sunshine’s compatibility notes for that session and your GPU encoder.
- Use the package format that exposes the capture backend you need.
- Review the Sunshine logs after starting a stream; a warning about capture or encoding is more useful than changing several settings at once.
Linux HDR: possible, but experimental
Do not treat HDR as a default result of installing Sunshine and Moonlight. LizardByte documents Linux HDR as experimental. Its described path requires a supported Intel or AMD encoder, HEVC Main 10 or AV1 10-bit through VAAPI, KMS capture and an HDR-capable compositor such as Gamescope or KDE Plasma 6. Moonlight’s guide separately says its Linux HDR client must be launched directly from the console, requires an Intel GPU and HDR10 display conditions for the client path it documents, and labels HDR streaming beta on supported clients.
| HDR component | Documented condition |
|---|---|
| Host encoder | Intel or AMD GPU encoding HEVC Main 10 or AV1 10-bit through VAAPI. |
| Host capture | KMS capture. |
| Host compositor | An HDR-capable compositor such as Gamescope or KDE Plasma 6. |
| Moonlight Linux client | Launch directly from the console for the documented HDR path. |
| Client display and GPU | Moonlight’s guide lists Intel GPU and HDR10 display requirements for its Linux HDR client path. |
These requirements must line up simultaneously. A modern display alone does not make HDR work if the host package lacks KMS, the encoder cannot produce the required 10-bit profile, or the compositor is not HDR-capable. Verify the current Sunshine and Moonlight documentation for your exact combination before buying hardware specifically for HDR.
Controllers, keyboard and mouse input
Moonlight forwards client input to Sunshine. If a controller or other input device does not work on Linux, LizardByte’s setup guide says to add the user running Sunshine to the input group. On systems that use standard group management, that can be done with sudo usermod -aG input <username>; log out and back in so the new group membership is applied, then test again.
Use Sunshine’s Troubleshooting tab and logs to distinguish an input-permission problem from a game that ignores a particular controller layout. Test Remote Desktop or another simple application before troubleshooting a game’s own input settings.
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A methodical tuning sequence
- Prove the host works locally: start Sunshine, open its web interface and confirm that the default applications are present.
- Pair one client: discover or manually add the host in Moonlight and complete PIN pairing.
- Run a short desktop test: this isolates capture, encode, decode and input from game-launch issues.
- Test one game: use a title that already runs reliably on the host.
- Stabilize the network: wire the host, use a strong 5 GHz client connection and remove network congestion.
- Check logs: review Sunshine warnings after each change rather than changing multiple variables together.
- Attempt remote access last: add router or VPN-style networking only after local streaming is dependable.
This order prevents an internet configuration problem from being mistaken for a capture or pairing failure. It also gives you a known-good local baseline when testing a different Linux client, desktop session or package format.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
The host is visible but pairing fails
Reopen Sunshine’s web interface, confirm that the PIN is entered on the Sunshine PIN page, and retry with both devices on the same local network. Check that the Sunshine account was created successfully and inspect the Troubleshooting tab for errors.
The stream starts with a black screen
Check the host desktop session and capture backend. Native packages are preferable when KMS capture is required, because Flatpak and AppImage do not provide KMS support. Review the compatibility notes for X11, Wayland or KMS and read the Sunshine log generated when the stream starts.
Video stutters despite a fast gaming PC
Check the host-to-router link first. Moonlight’s recommended arrangement is a wired host and a strong 5 GHz client connection. A powerful GPU cannot compensate for packet loss or an unstable wireless path.
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Check Linux permissions and add the Sunshine user to the input group as described above. Re-login, reconnect the controller and test with the desktop stream before changing game-specific controller settings.
HDR does not appear
Confirm every documented condition: supported Intel or AMD 10-bit encoding, KMS capture, an HDR-capable compositor, the Moonlight Linux launch method and an HDR10-capable client display. HDR is experimental on Linux, so a configuration that meets some but not all conditions may still fall back to SDR.
Which upgrade should you make first?
Use the existing setup to identify the limiting component instead of buying hardware immediately.
- Host uses Wi-Fi: run Ethernet to the router before replacing the GPU or client.
- Client signal is weak: improve 5 GHz coverage or consider Wi-Fi 6 if the current wireless network cannot provide a stable link.
- Black screen on a Flatpak or AppImage install: switch to a distribution-specific package if KMS capture is needed.
- HDR is the goal: verify encoder, profile, KMS, compositor, client launch method and display support before purchasing anything.
- Input is missing: check Linux input permissions and Sunshine logs before changing network equipment.
The official pages do not provide controlled comparisons of particular routers, cables, mini-PCs, GPUs or Linux distributions. Choose based on the connection, capture backend and decoder requirements you can verify in your own environment.
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- Use a unique Sunshine web-interface password.
- Do not leave the administrative interface exposed to the public internet.
- Pair clients only when you intend to grant them access.
- Remove or unpair clients you no longer control.
- When using remote streaming, document which router rules or private-network memberships permit access.
Sunshine’s web interface is powerful because it controls applications and client access. Treat it like a local administrator panel, not like a disposable game setting.
Sources and version notes
Installation and package guidance comes from LizardByte’s Sunshine getting-started documentation. Pairing, networking, Linux client and HDR-client notes come from the Moonlight Setup Guide, last edited October 21, 2024. Sunshine’s compatibility and project overview cited here are from version 2026.214.224301 at docs.lizardbyte.dev. Flatpak-specific installation information is available on the Sunshine Flathub page. Package names, desktop environments and capture support can change, so use the current instructions for your distribution when installing or upgrading.
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