Share a keyboard and mouse with Ubuntu and XP via Synergy

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 05:40:41 GMT

I have a new configuration for my computer setup at home. I started by upgrading my version of Ubuntu to 6.06 (Dapper Drake ). I've had an older version setup for a while, but didn't really use it that often. Dapper seems to run much better.

I ran across an article on how to turn your dual-monitor PC into a dual mac-PC system a few days ago and thought it would be a pretty sweet setup. Since I don't have a mac (yet) I wanted to give it a go with Ubuntu and my XP PC. Here is a step by step.

Install Synergy on Ubuntu

go to Applications > Add/Remove Applications
click Advanced (enter your admin password if asked)
do a Search for "synergy"
mark the package for installation and apply it (current version is 1.3.1)
the package should now be installed

Install Synergy on XP

download the latest EXE from SourceForge (current version is 1.3.1)
run the EXE to install it (it won't take long)

Configure Ubuntu to be the server

create synergy.conf. I saved mine to /home/robert/config/synergy.conf, which probably isn't the best place, but I'm new to *nix, so I didn't know the best place for it.
edit synergy.conf to look like the Unix example here .

Start the server on Ubuntu

launch a terminal: Applications > Accessories > Terminal
enter: synergys -f --config /path/to/config/synergy.conf
synergy should now be running on Ubuntu

Start Synergy on XP as the client

launch Synergy (usually Start > Programs > Synergy > Synergy)
select "Use another computer's shared keyboard and mouse (client)"
enter the host name or IP address of your Ubuntu machine (I used IP)
click Test
you should now be able to roll your Ubuntu mouse from one screen to the other

Setup Synergy to auto start on XP

since we don't want to have to manually start Synergy every time we reboot our PC we can set it up to auto start
launch Synergy if you don't already have it open
select AutoStart...
select Install for either "When You Log In" or "When Computer Starts". I went with when the computer starts.
go ahead and Quit Synergy

Setup Synergy to auto start on Ubuntu

if you're not already logged in as root [1], you'll need to do that now
you'll have to edit 3 scripts

/etc/X11/gdm/init/Default
/etc/X11/gdm/PostLogin/Default (I had to change from Default.sample to Default)
/etc/X11/gdm/PreSession/Default

add the code listed under Unix for each file listed here. Use synergys instead of synergyc. Also use /usr/bin/synergys --config /path/to/config/synergy.conf for the lines after sleep 1
save all three scripts

Reboot Ubuntu and XP

That should be it. You should now be able to use the same mouse, keyboard, and clipboard on both PCs while each one has it's own monitor.

Here are some of the resources that I used:

[1] - How to login as root in Ubuntu

Enjoy!

Friday

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:54:35 GMT

Well, it's Friday. Thank goodness for that.

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Share a keyboard and mouse with Ubuntu and XP via Synergy

Friday