Using laptop monitor as an external monitor

hey i have a macbook pro and Lenova laptop, and i work for a video surveillance company. when installing a DVR at a a job site, you would need a monitor to attach to it to configure. Is there a software that allows you to connect the DVR via VGA to the laptop and use as a regular monitor through a software, than rather having to take a monitor and all that hassle to every job site. Most of our consumers won't have a monitor to use, they use our Client Software to view/manage cameras. The DVR uses a Linux OS.

I have used this set up on a laptop using a usb video capture unit google usb dvr .

I have used this set up on a laptop using a usb video capture unit google usb dvr .

and it worked as if you have a standalone external monitor hooked up to it? What software were you using to view it on laptop

I have used this set up on a laptop using a usb video capture unit google usb dvr .

but the device use AV Cables, my DVR/NVRS only have VGA or HDMI outputs only

ok I may have picked you up wrong.

Usually you can connect to the dvr with your laptop to adjust all the configuration etc and there is usually some part of there software that allows you to view the cameras on the laptop - so you can set up activity etc to set off alarmed recordings and stuff.

so maybe you are after the red box shown here (googled vga to usb video grabber):-

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vga+to+usb+video+grabber&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mMDbU8yyA6bB7AbX_IGwCQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1600&bih=754#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=QBlv2lHS3NOjwM%253A%3B32-Xg4UBXlySsM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fsewelldirect.com%252Fimages%252Fproducts%252FSW-7563%252F7563diagram.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fsewelldirect.com%252FVGA-to-USB-Video-Grabber.asp%3B600%3B283

sure you can find something from searching google and viewing image results.