Synergy
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[edit] Description
Synergy is a program that lets you share 1 keyboard and 1 mouse between multiple computers (different operating systems!) using the TCP/IP protocol.
Synergy also does other things like merging copy-paste, so you can copy something on one computer, and paste it on another one.
You can find more information on the official Synergy website: http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/
To use Synergy you need 1 server, this is the computer that has the keyboard and mouse attached.
The other computers are the clients.
Configuration is only needed for the server computer.
You may also use the quicksynergy gui, which simplifies the configuration process.
[edit] Installing and starting the Synergy server
[edit] Arch Linux
To download Synergy for Arch Linux you can get it from the Extra repository:
pacman -S synergy
The configuration file for Arch Linux can be found at /etc/synergy.conf
The comments in the configuration file should give you enough information, otherwise check http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ for more information.
To start the server, run:
synergys
This will run the server in the background. If you experience problems and you wish to run the server in the foreground, you can run instead:
synergys -f
If you want to run the synergy server everytime Arch Linux boots up, you have to make sure "synergys" starts up everytime Arch boots. There are several ways to do this...
[edit] Windows
Download the newest "SynergyInstaller-version.exe" from SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=59275&package_id=58013
Run the installation wizard.
After installation, open the Synergy program.
Select the option "Share this computer's keyboard and mouse (server)" and then click the "Configure..." button next to "Screens & Links"
Add screens, depending on how much computers/screens you have. And then make Links to make the server know where every screen is located. The names of the screens should be the hostnames, but you can also add aliases. A very simple example for 2 screens would be:
Screens:
LEFTPC
RIGHTPC
Links:
RIGHTPC is right of LEFTPC
LEFTPC is left of RIGHTPC
For more information about screens & links check http://synergy2.sourceforge.net
If you want to start the Synergy server everytime Windows starts, go to "Options -> Autostart".
Click "Test" to test the connection. You should get a new window displaying something like:
INFO: Synergy server 1.3.1 on Microsoft Windows Server XP NOTE: started server INFO: screen "LEFTPC" shape changed
Close the window and click "Stop" to stop the test.
Click "Start" to start the server. You can use the tray icon (or the task manager) to stop the server.
[edit] Mac OS X
I am told that Mac OS X has the same configuration as UNIX. Check http://synergy2.sourceforge.net for more information
[edit] Installing and starting Synergy clients
[edit] Arch Linux
In a console window, type:
synergyc -f server-host-name
Where server-host-name is the hostname of the server pc. Check http://synergy2.sourceforge.net for more information
[edit] Windows
Download the newest "SynergyInstaller-version.exe" from SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=59275&package_id=58013
Run the installation wizard.
After installation, open the Synergy program.
Select the option "Use another computer's shared keyboard and mouse (client)" and type the hostname of the server computer in the textbox.
If you want to start the Synergy client everytime Windows starts, go to "Options -> Autostart".
Click "Test" to test the connection. You should get a new window displaying something like:
INFO: Synergy client 1.3.1 on Microsoft Windows Server XP NOTE: started client NOTE: connected to server
Close the window and click "Stop" to stop the test.
Click "Start" to start the client. You can use the tray icon (or the task manager) to stop the client.
[edit] Mac OS X
Locate the synergyc program in the synergyc folder and drag it onto the terminal window. The full path will appear in the terminal. Append the following:
-f server-host-name
Where server-host-name is the hostname of the server pc.
So it will look like this:
/path/to/synergyc/synergyc -f server-host-name
Then press Enter Check http://synergy2.sourceforge.net for more information
[edit] possible startscript
Example for a startscript (Linux Synergy Client) /etc/rc.d/synergyc
#!/bin/bash
. /etc/rc.conf
. /etc/rc.d/functions
PID=`pidof -o %PPID /usr/bin/synergyc`
case "$1" in
start)
stat_busy "Starting Synergy Client"
[ -z "$PID" ] && /usr/bin/synergyc w01241248
if [ $? -gt 0 ]; then
stat_fail
else
/usr/bin/xset r on
add_daemon synergyc
stat_done
fi
;;
stop)
stat_busy "Stopping Synergy Client"
[ ! -z "$PID" ] && kill -9 $PID
if [ $? -gt 0 ]; then
stat_fail
else
rm_daemon synergyc
stat_done
fi
;;
restart)
$0 stop
sleep 1
$0 start
;;
*)
echo "usage: $0 {start|stop|restart}"
esac
exit 0
[edit] Additional information
If you experience problems with your keyboard repeat on the client machine (linux host), simply type
/usr/bin/xset r on
in any console.
[edit] External Links
Synergy website: http://synergy2.sourceforge.net
Configuring screens and links: http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/configuration.html