Synergy: Use one keyboard/mouse with multiple computers

Do you have multiple computers? Always mix up your keyboards and mice? Well you can say goodbye to all those problems thanks to Synergy! Synergy is probably one of the best open source programs out there, it allows you to share a single keyboard and mouse among all your computers (yes it’s multiplatform as well!). The only downside is that it tends to be a little tedious to install Synergy and get working initially (after the first setup nothing really has to change). To make life a little easier for all the GoGeeks.tv readers out there, I decided to make a video along with this post!

Install Synergy: Downloads

• Synergy (Used version 1.3.1)
• Wallpaper

Now there are two parts to setting up Synergy. First you need to setup the computer which will have the keyboard and mouse you want to use, this is called the “Server”, and second are the computer(s) which will be the displays which depend on the server computer’s keyboard and mouse, these computers are called the “Clients”.

Install Synergy: Server Computer Instructions

These steps will show you how to setup Synergy on the computer which has the keyboard in mouse you intend on using!

1. Download and install Synergy.
2. Get the IP address of your computer (open command promp, type in “IPConfig”)
3. Open Synergy
4. Click Advanced
5. Type in the IP address

Install Synergy: Client Computer Instructions

These steps will show you how to setup Synergy on the computers which will be using the keyboard and mouse of the server computer! Repeat these steps for each computer you plan on setting up!

1. Open Synergy
2. Other host’s name: Type in the server IP address
3. Screenname: “OtherScreen”