Install Linux USB Server as Service on Steam Deck?

Submitted by doesboknow on #1

Hello, I was trying to have the Linux USB Server run permanently on my Steam Deck, and just enabling/disabling my VH Client as needed. However, the default installer script tries to write to read-only folders that SteamOS sets.

I'm not very Linux-savvy, but I figured I'd ask some questions anyway.

1.) Is there a way for the installer to instead install the application and the server in a separate folder via the script?

2.) If not, is there a way I can only acquire virtualhere.service, and modify the ExecStart parameters to point to wherever I put the application?

This would also help, since I can disable read-only temporarily in SteamOS, but they'd likely be overwritten with any updates. Thanks in advance!

Submitted by Michael on Sat, 2025/06/21 - 09:03

#2

The install script https://github.com/virtualhere/script/blob/main/install_server is just a normal shell script and so you can just copy that file to your steamdeck

Then edit it, e.g using vi or nano and then change the paths in there to the correct path to save the binary file and to put the config.ini. 

Both these paths can be in the same directory. I don't know the disk mount setup on the SteamDeck but usually you just type mount and it will show all disk mounts and one or more of them should be rw for read-write and then you can just use that path to save the files.

After you edit the script save it and chmod +x ./install_server then run it with sudo like this sudo ./install_server