Setting up synergy
1. Install synergy
2. Create unique hostnames for your machines
3. Write a config file for the synergy server
4. Test run
Server
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Install
Synergy installs two binaries; /usr/bin/synergys and /usr/bin/synergyc.
The first starts the server, the second the client. TCP/IP is also
a requirement and PCLOS has that already set up and running.
Hostname
Each machine is identified by it's hostname. They must be unique.
All linux distros I've seen use localhost.localdomain by default. You
can change this to any hostname you like. Set your hostname in /etc/sysconfig/network using your text editor. You'll do this on each of
your machines. (I use desktop#.localnet giving each machine a different
# number)
Config file
One machine has to be the server. The other(s) will be the client(s).
On the server you need a config file which is read by synergys when
it starts up. I made a synergy folder in /etc and named the config
file synergy.conf. You get the IP numbers (inet addr:) for your machines using the ifconfig -a command in a terminal. (The ones used here in the aliases
section are just examples)
The links section is where you describe the physical location of your
machines relative to each other. (in terms of screen edges)
/etc/synergy/synergy.conf
section: screens
desktop1.localnet:
desktop2.localnet:
laptop:
end
section: aliases
desktop1.localnet:
192.168.0.106
desktop2.localnet:
192.168.0.111
laptop:
192.168.0.108
end
section: links
desktop1.localnet:
up = desktop2.localnet
left = laptop
desktop2.localnet:
down = desktop1.localnet
laptop:
right = desktop1.localnet
end
section: options
screenSaverSync = false
end
Testing server
The command to start the synergy server in the background as a daemon is:
synergys --config /etc/synergy/synergy.conf
But for testing in the foreground, until you get it working right, use the -f option:
synergys -f --config /etc/synergy/synergy.conf
Port conflict
The default port synergy uses is 24800. If you get errors that say
something like "port already used" then try 24900 or another until
you find one that works. You will use the -a option in the server command and prepend a colon to the port number like this:
synergys -f -a :24888 --config /etc/synergy/synergy.conf
Clients
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Testing client
Clients need no config file. The command to start the synergy client(s)
is:
synergyc 192.168.0.106 ## the server machine IP number
If you had port errors with the server, then use a colon and append the port number to the command like this:
synergyc 192.168.0.106:24888
The port numbers have to match in both server and client.
Barring typos and other little mistakes, this should get you up and
running with no errors. If you move your mouse past the edge of
the server screen, it should show up in the client. You should be
able to share the keyboard wherever the mouse pointer is and you should
be able to copy and paste between machines.
You can add more client machines. You'll have to modify the
/etc/synergy/synergy.conf file when you do so.
When you are satisfied all is running well, run synergy in the background
as a daemon, as noted above, by removing the -f option. If you used the -a
option for the port problem, keep that in the command.
Extra:
If you add the command to your /home/user/.bashrc file, synergy will
autostart when you login. There are other (better) ways to autostart
as well.
The end
