Shameless Plug: Synergy

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Advertorial

We all know and love PSX's way of networking.  Whether you want one PSX on multiple monitors or multiple PSX on multiple computers, just do it.

For those people driving multiple monitors that are closely arranged from multiple computers, it may be unhandy or outright irritating that they need to have multiple keyboards and mice to control the machine bank. In such a case, consider Synergy.



Synergy is as multi-platform as PSX itself and allows you to use one keyboard/mouse combo to control more than one computer, totally seamlessly. You have to tell the thing where your monitors are in relation to each other, and the rest is automagical. Even copy and paste actions between systems are supported (up to a limit, but extremely handy already).

I have been a happy user of Synergy for many years and admit I have donated to the project so I am in that 0.002% of the group. It is that useful. Recently the project started to charge $5 for a download which makes it still a very affordable, essential addon for people with a multimachine bank.


Hoppie

[GodAtum]

I also use this on my PCs. Excellent and hassle free.

[Markus Vitzethum]

Good hint, thanks Jeroen. With a few computers scheduled to move from XP to Linux here, and a Mac upstairs, definitely worth looking.

Personally, I use "Mouse without Borders" which is a "Microsoft Garage" project (from employees who do side projects in their free time). It is free and allows you to move the mouse over up to 4 computers (and mabye 8-12 screens) (incidentally, the same number as PSX licenses per DVD   ). I can recommend it for anyone, too, who is running a pure Windows environment.

See http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35460

Markus

[Ray_CYYZ]

Can this be used on machines that have keyboard / mouse?

I have a desktop (windows) and a laptop (redhat linux), would love to be able to use my desktop mouse and keyboard instead of the horrid little chicklettes on the laptop but I can't very well unplug that keyboard/mouse.  :lol:

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Ray, yes, no problem. If you don't touch the local mouse, the pointer will remain where the remote mouse left it. Otherwise it will become a pointer fight but "last touched mouse wins".  Same for keyboard but these are obviously additive.


Hoppie

[Ray_CYYZ]

Oh wow, you have made my day with this!

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Oh, FAQ #1 on Synergy.  If you suddenly notice that your mouse pointer won't any longer leave your current screen and hop onto the neighbour, you probably have the Scroll Lock key active.


Hoppie

[John Golin]

There is a free Microsoft app that does a similar thing for Windows only... works well...

http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=35460

[roccod]

Thanks for the suggestion Jeroen.  I can report this works very well across my networked setup, which combines a Mac and PC.

[Matt Sheil]

I use a paid program called Multiplicity a software KVM it works great. Apart from moving the mouse across screens, you can also click on each computer without a screen and take control of that computer, it places a live task bar down the side of the main screen with a small image of each screen that is live, so you can see all 9 computers operating at once.
I also use VNC for a backup connection to the remote computers on the screen.