Synergy

[last updated: 2022-03-07]
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• Synergy is software from (link to:) Symless.com
  that allows using one keyboard/mouse set
  on several computers (3 on Basic version, up to 15 on Pro version)
  It is advertised as being compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, including rPi.

• Operation Overview:
  • One of your computers will have a keyboard and mouse attached
    that you want to use for all your computers.
    This computer is the server.
  • The other computers are clients.
  • You must download Synergy software onto all your computers, with the downloaded software version matching the OS on your computer.

  • Once Synergy is set up and running on all your computers, you switch computers by scrolling the mouse.
    For example, if you've set up your server to be the center of the 3x5 grid,
    (define your desired grid positions with the "configure" action - see below)
    and your first client is located on the grid square to the left of the server,
    then scrolling your mouse off the left edge of the screen (when the server is active)
    will switch you to the client.
    Then, on the client, scrolling your mouse off the right edge of the screen
    will put you back to your server.

  • You can cut and paste text with the clipboard between computers.
    Synergy documentation says you must change some settings to enable this,
    and indeed you may need to edit settings if you have Windows computers,
    but copy and paste between my Linux systems worked without any changes.
  • However you apparently Cannot copy and paste files between computers...
    at least I haven't figured out how to do it in my Linux systems ...

  • All your computers must be on the same wifi network.
    Each computer must have a keyboard/monitor attached.

  • My intention is to use Synergy for my tower, Dell 4600 laptop, and a raspberry pi.

• Create a Synergy Account:
  When you buy Synergy online, you'll be prompted to set up an account, with email/password.
  When your account is set up, you can log in to your account here: (link to:) Symless Account Login page.
  (-or- click Account in top menu bar on Symless home page.)
  • Your License key (~100 characters) is found on your Account page.
    You need this key to activate your software.

• Download:
  • From the (link to:) Download page:
    Pick the version you want to download according to the OS on your target computer.
  • For Linux, there are several versions available, including Ubuntu, rPi, and Debian.
  • There is no version specifically for the Linux Mint that I am running
    However Linux mint 20.3 (my current tower version) is based on Ubuntu 20.04
    so that's what I downloaded from Synergy:
        synergy_1.14.2-stable.c6918b74_ubuntu20_amd64.deb
    I will use this version on both my tower and my Dell 4600 laptop.

• Installation/Configuration:
  • (link to:) Install guide for Linux.
    (link to:) Install guide for Windows.
  • Install:
    • Use this procedure for both server and client.
    • In File Manager, go to the folder where you saved your .deb file.
      (...Tech/computer/software/synergy on my tower)
    • right-click .deb file
      select: Open with GDebi Package Installer
      select: Install Package
      When installation finishes, top line of dialogue box reads: "Same version is already installed."
      Not sure what this is supposed to be saying, but proceeded regardless. Closed box.
  • Configure:
    • Open Synergy:
      from Linux Mint main menu:
      type Synergy in search bar
      click Synergy to open/execute.
    • You'll be prompted to "Name your computer"
      I named my computers:
      tower/server: jay-XPS-8700
      4600/client: Dell-4600

      click Apply

    • a new box opens, "Activate Synergy"
      asking for your Serial (License) key
      cut and paste your key from your Synergy Account page
      click OK
      "Activated! Thanks" box opens. Click OK.

    • Server:
      • On my system, my server is my Dell tower
        "This computer's IP address:"
        192.168.0.12
      • select: "Use this computer's keyboard..."
      • click Configure server
        This brings up a grid where you can define the positions of the clients and server

    • Client:
      • Dell-4600:
        "This computer's IP address:"
        192.168.0.20
      • select: "Use another computer's keyboard..."
      • in server IP address or name, enter:
        192.168.0.12 (your server IP from above)
      • click Connect
      • "Connection failed. Check IP address, TLS, and firewall settings."
        Close error box.
        This error will happen after configuring the first computer,
        because you don't yet have a second one configured.
        However after you have a server and one client configured,
        they should connect automatically.

• Run:
  If you have re-booted or otherwise stopped/closed synergy, re-start server and clients as follows:
  • Start client:
    Linux Mint main menu
    type synergy in search bar
    click Synergy to execute
    It should start automatically, and you'll see in the scrolling log window
    that it is failing to connect, because you have not yet started the server.
  • Start server:
    Linux Mint main menu
    type synergy in search bar
    click Synergy to execute
  • Connection should happen automatically,
    and moving cursor with mouse off left edge of main screen
        (or wherever you configured the client screen...)
    you should see the cursor moving and tracking the mouse on your client screen.
  • Minimize (ie. do NOT close) the synergy windows on both computers.

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