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Synergy+ shares one mouse and keyboard between multiple computers
Synergy is a cross-platform, open source application that allows you to navigate between multiple computer systems using a single mouse. Each system has its own screen, and once Synergy is installed and configured correctly, you can simply move your mouse to the edge of one screen and watch it seamlessly jump to another screen, which is a completely different computer.
We've talked about Synergy before, but unfortunately, development on it stagnated in 2006. Thankfully, there is a project on Google Code called Synergy+ which has taken the source code of the original Synergy, written by Chris Schoeneman, and updated it with numerous bug fixes. The team behind Synergy+ seems to want to continue improving the product, and they would welcome Schoeneman back, even to the extent of hoping that he would merge the two projects if he ever returned to active development on Synergy.
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsDominicMar 9th 2010 3:18PM
Synergy is great for cross platform support but I always struggled with the configuration in the past. If your sticking with Windows, Stardock's Multiplicity has been my favorite program for this and its dead simple to configure.
ALeXMar 9th 2010 5:25PM
The only problem i experienced with Synergy+ was when the network load peaked, the mouse movement lagged a little on the client machine(s)...
It's true that it can be a little difficult to calibrate (especially in Linux where there is no GUI), but i had it wasn't anything to lose sleep about...
kojo87Mar 9th 2010 6:09PM
i will definitely play around with this. i've been trying to come up with a use for the extra tower and monitor i have.
so this is like a KVM switch ... without the V. and free!
gsarigMar 9th 2010 6:25PM
I use synergy+ for some time now and I am more than pleased with it. The good thing is that it's cross platform, which means that you can control your machines with the same keyboard / mouse even among different operating systems.
I can also confirm the lagging problem that Alex mentioned. It's not so often, but it happens sometimes.
Besides that, it's one of my favorite freewares...
sRcMar 9th 2010 6:30PM
nice, good to see someones picked up maintenance for Synergy
VitaminCMMar 9th 2010 6:42PM
Synergy is awesome. I use it all the time to control my Mac, PC, and Linux machines.
Here is a full tutorial with videos that shows you how to set up Synergy on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
It shows you how to do all of the configuration steps on each operating system.
nomi49Mar 9th 2010 7:36PM
I have been using http://www.inputdirector.com/ for quite a while now. But I guess Synergy is worth trying.
bonesMar 10th 2010 10:11AM
I used Synergy+ but stability issues and period random character input had me switch to InputDirector. I have never had an issue with InputDirector.
VitaminCMMar 9th 2010 9:00PM
Complete synergy video tutorial.
http://www.vitamincm.com/control-multiple-computers-using-synergy/
Shows you how to do all of the configuration steps on each operating system.
ShamrockMar 10th 2010 3:26AM
I started using synergy a couple of years ago and I've always been very pleased with it...until I learned about input director! With synergy, I often had trouble with the copy - paste function. Input director works flawlessly.
Tim NewmanMar 10th 2010 11:16AM
there are GUIs for linux and mac .... look up synergyKM for mac and quick synergy for linux .... all have have been out for quite some time ... i am currently running regular synergy between win 7, snow leopard, and fluxbox mint linux with no problems at all.
Rishi SatsangiMar 14th 2010 9:56PM
I actually do this now using a program called Input Director http://www.inputdirector.com/ but it is windows only.
brucetheaussieApr 12th 2010 10:59AM
Having used synergy for most of a year it allowed me to quickly move between a windows and a linux desktop. The setup and configuration wasn't too tricky (as long as the host machine was the Linux box).
It is an incredible piece of software and next time I need to run 2 machines side by side I WILL be using this again.