Control two computers

Introduction to synergy - controlling two or more computers with one keyboard and mouse

Intro

Oftentimes you will have more than a single computer that you want to use. Cluttering up your workspace with two keyboards and two mice is simply not necessary. Synergy is GPL (free) software that will allow you to control your Windows, Mac and Linux computers from a single keyboard and mouse. You could use a KVM switch, but that's expensive and not necessary if your computers are on a shared network. You can even 'copy' and 'paste' from one computer to the other. Sound too good to be true? Watch the video on CNET

Synergy

Synergy uses the network to communicate from the 'main' computer aka server (whose keyboard you want to use) to the 'client' computer which you want to also control. In my situation, I have a desktop computer for doing programming, and a notebook computer that I use more for simply browsing the web, chat and email. The desktop computer has a nice ergonomic keyboard, and wireless mouse. Instead of having to twist myself around and use the chicklet keyboard and touchpad of the notebook, I can place the notebook next to my desktop screen to get a comfortable viewing angle and use synergy to work on both computers from one keyboard and mouse. (The notebook keyboard still works, but I just don't have to use it.)

Internet from the couch

Another scenario where this is handy is if you have a media center PC. The Media Center PC is either tucked away next to your TV, or even in your basement or a closet - making it difficult to use the keyboard and mouse to control it. While you could get a wireless keyboard and even a gyroscopic mouse to control your Media Center, you could also just use Synergy and your notebook computer as the controlling keyboard / mouse. What this means, if it's not obvious, is that you sit on the couch with your notebook computer, and as you move your mouse off the (right/any) side of the screen, all of a sudden your mouse and keyboard are controlling the media center PC. Move the mouse pointer back off the side of the media center screen and it appears on your notebook again.

Installing

For Linux, it's as simple as

sudo apt-get install synergy

For Mac and Windows, refer to the website

Configuring

For Linux, you create a really simple configuration file. There's even a program called quicksynergy that will write the configuration file for you -- but in my experience it was easier to edit the file by hand, get it working, and then make it automatic by editing the Xsession scripts as described in the website.