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Introduction
Synergy is an application that lets you control a number of computers with the one mouse and keyboard. You can mix windows, Linux and/or Apple computers. You can have more than two computers controlled simultaneously. I describe here only how to get a Linux and a windows computer running together.
Here's the Synergy User Guide.
I use Synergy to run only two computers side by side, one running openSUSE 12.3 and one running windows 7. Sadly I need windows operating simultaneously with Linux for my work (after all, it's a real world out there). It would be simpler to import the windows desktop into the openSUSE screen with RDP and Rdesktop. But I need the openSUSE screen to remain uncluttered. I need to work simultaneously on both operating systems with separate screens. So I run the two computers with the one mouse & keyboard setup using Synergy.
In the description that follows, I have a windows computer with hostname win7ult960. It is the right hand member of the pair, with IP address 10.10.1.9, and it is the client machine (which means that the keyboard and mouse that control it are not physically connected to it). Next to it on the left side is the openSUSE 12.3 machine with hostname opensuse123 and with IP address 10.10.1.2, and it is the server machine (which means that the keyboard and mouse that control both it and the windows client machine are physically connected to it).
Install the RPM in openSUSE
opensuse 12.3: I got my copy from lnt-sysadmin because it appears to be a later version that the others on offer. My version is synergy-1.4.10-4.2.x86_64. Here's the address:
Code:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/lnt-sysadmin:/tools/openSUSE_12.3/
You can install it various ways e.g. put it in a directory where you store RPMs and add the directory to Yast --> Software Repositories and then install it using Yast --> Software Management.
opensuse 13.1: use MalcolmLewis's repo:
Code:
http://software.opensuse.org/download.html?project=home%3Amalcolmlewis%3ASLE_11_SPn_General&package=synergy
Make and Install the Synergy Configuration File
There is a bunch of example configuration files in the directory /usr/share/doc/packages/synergy/. They will tell you what to put in a config file. Here's what I used:
Code:
# comments begin with the # character and continue to the end of
# line. comments may appear anywhere the syntax permits.
section: screens
# two hosts named win7ult960 and opensuse123
win7ult960:
opensuse123:
end
section: links
# win7ult is to the right of opensuse123
win7ult960:
left = opensuse123
opensuse123:
right = win7ult960
end
section: aliases
# openSUSE is sometime dicky with servernames, so I use IP addresses too
win7ult960:
10.10.1.9
opensuse123:
10.10.1.2
opensuse123:
opensuse123.site
end
section: options
screenSaverSync = false
# hotkey to lock the cursor to the screen is usually Num Lock, but see below
keystroke(f12) = lockCursorToScreen(toggle)
end
Workaround for the (openSUSE) Name Resolution Bug
For a decade that I'm aware of, Suse Linux has had difficulties with resolving hostnames to IP addresses, so it's wise in the case of Synergy to give that a bit of assistance. Have a look at my config file synergy.conf above. See where I've put the IP addresses of the computers as aliases against the hostnames, like this:
Code:
section: aliases # openSUSE is sometime dicky with servernames, so I use IP addresses too win7ult960: 10.10.1.9 opensuse123: 10.10.1.2 ...........snip.........
Code:
hosts: files mdns_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns
Code:
hosts: files mdns_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] wins dns
Workaround for the (openSUSE 12.3) HOSTNAME Bug
You might get an error message when you start the Linux server with the command synergy.sh, like this:
Code:
INFO: Synergy 1.4.10 Server on Linux 3.7.10-1.1-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Feb 28 15:06:29 UTC 2013 (82d3f21) x86_64 FATAL: unknown screen name `opensuse123.site'
Code:
opensuse123:
opensuse123.site
Allow Synergy Server Through SuSEfirewall2
Read the Userguide. The default port is TCP 24800. GoTo Yast --> Security & Users --> Firewall --> Allowed Services and "Add" the service manually using the "Advanced" button. Put 24800 in the TCP Ports slot (Advanced button).
How You Start Synergy in openSUSE
This is only one of the several/many ways: I put the start command in a shell script and start it from the command line. Make a file called synergy.sh with these contents:
Code:
#!/bin/sh synergys -f --config /etc/synergy.conf
Synergy in Windows
There's a website at Synergy where you can download the windows Synergy exe version file. Be careful which link you click, there are quite a few red herrings there. Try this link for x64 machines: synergy-1.4.10-Windows-x64.exe. That's current. When they update, you'll have to re-locate the new link.
Install the application by mouse click on the downloaded exe file. You should notice that an "exception" is added to windows firewall during the installation, allowing the linking to take place. After the install, I found an icon for Synergy in the windows shortcuts/favourites on the start menu. If you can't see it, you'll find the installed application exe file located at C: \Program Files\Synergy\synergy.exe. Run synergy. A Qt window opens. Choose the Client option [Client (use another computer's keyboard and mouse)]. Put the IP address of the openSUSE server in the slot [so that it says server IP: 10.10.1.2]. Click apply and close the panel. Next GoTo Control Panel --> Admin Tools --> Component Services --> Services Local and find the entry for Synergy. It should read status=started, StartUpType= automatic and LogOnAs=LocalSystem.
Reboot. When windows starts again it should sit quietly waiting for the Linux server to make a link and take control. [BTW you can leave a keyboard and mouse attached to a client machine, it won't hurt].
That's all folks, be well
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