Synergy (software)

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For other uses of "Synergy", see Synergy (disambiguation).
Synergy
Image:Synergy_Logo.png

Synergy 1.3.1 on Windows XP
Latest release: 1.3.1 / 2006-04-02
OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Use: Remote Desktop
License: GPL
Website: http://synergy2.sourceforge.net

Synergy is a open source computer program for sharing a keyboard and mouse between multiple computers. It is used in situations where you have several PCs, with a monitor connected to each, but only want to have one keyboard and mouse on the desk — similar to a KVM switch without the V.

Once the program is installed, users can move the mouse "off" the side of their desktop on one computer, and the mouse-pointer will appear on the desktop of another computer. Key-presses will be delivered to whichever computer the mouse-pointer is located in. This makes it possible to control several machines as easily as if they were a single multi-monitor computer.

Synergy is able to seamlessly integrate Linux, Macintosh and Windows machines, even down to the clipboard and synchronization of screensavers.

Architecturally, the program is implemented as a server which defines which screen-edges lead to which machines, and one or more clients, which connect to the server to offer the use of their desktops. The keyboard and mouse are connected to the server machine.

TCP/IP communications (on port 24800) are used to send mouse/keyboard and clipboard events between computers.

[edit] See also

  • MaxiVista and Multiplicity - commercial alternatives
  • QuickSynergy Official site - A Cocoa and GTK+ 2.x GUI for Mac OS X and Linux for Synergy2.
  • X2VNC [1] Allows the mouse and keyboard of a X desktop to control another desktop running a VNC server
  • Win2VNC [2] Allows the mouse and keyboard of a Windows desktop to control another desktop running a VNC server
  • x2x [3] Allows the mouse and keyboard of one X display to control another X display
  • teleport Website - A free Mac OS X only alternative

[edit] External links

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