Multiple Machines : Synergy to the rescue

This past week I’ve started using Synergy again. For those that haven’t heard of it before, Synergy is a software-based KVM application that allows you easily share a keyboard and mouse amongst multiple computers using a TCP/IP connection I first used the tool a couple years back but the most recent release was in April of 2006.

In the past I’ve tended to have nothing but problems with cheap (perhaps that’s the problem) hardware KVMs (power outages or system shutdowns). Instead of using cables, Synergy tunnels everything over TCP/IP and generally works as expected. I had a few inconsistencies in some applications when sharing from Linux -> Windows but vice-versa works like a charm. No problems crossing between computers from within Warcraft either

I’ve been running the server on a Windows XP laptop and the client on Ubutu ‘Fiesty Fawn’. In this configuration my laptop’s keyboard and mouse are shared transparent with Ubuntu.

It’s really quite nice so if you happen to be messing around with KVM-cables and the like, stop and check out Synergy. It’s open-source, available via Sourceforge and might just be exactly what you need.