Synergy is a software alternative to using a KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch to allow you to share a monitor, keyboard and mouse between 2 computers. Unlike a KVM switch that must be changed from Source A to Source B each time you want to use one or the other computer, Synergy alows you to simply move your mouse cursor from one screen to the other, in exactly the same fashion as a single computer using a dual monitor setup. The difference being that you're using a single keyobard and mouse between 2 different computers.

Before we start, you should know a few facts with respect to this program.

1. Both computers must be networked and able to "see" each other in order for Synergy to communicate between the computers.

2. Synergy does not allow you to drag and drop files from one computer to the other. However, you can transfer files between the two computers using the network.

OK, with those disclaimers out of the way, lets get started.

Fist, you need to install Synergy on both computers. One of the computers will be the primary (server) and the other will be the secondary (client). Which will be which is up to you. This is how my system is set up.

I have 2 computers, a laptop named bingoware and a desktop named Greg. My laptop is my primary system and the desktop is my secondary system.

My laptop sits to the left side of my desktops monitor.

When you install Synergy on the server computer, this is the screen that comes up.

This screen appears

Now click the + button and enter the name of your server computer. You only need to enter a name, everything else can be left as is.

Click OK.

Do this again to add your cient computer name and again click Ok.

Under the Links screen, you see I'm telling Synergy that my desktop (Greg) is to the right of my laptop (bingoware)

and that my laptop (bingoware) is to the left of my desktop (greg).

Now that you have told Synergy where each computer is in relation to the other, you can click OK.

All that remains is to open Synergy on the client computer and when this screen appears

Click the button that tells Synergy to share another computers keyboard/mouse and what that computers name is and click Start.

Go to the server computer (bingoware in my case) and start Synergy on that one as well. You should be all done. If you have a wireless keyboard/mouse like I do, you will not need to have a keyboard or mouse connected to the client computer.

You will know when Synergy had connected to both computers because your mouse cursor will disapper from one of the screens. The screen that still has a cursor is the currently active or selected system. You should be good to go at this point.

Occasionally, I may only want to start my client computer (the desktop). In that case, all I do is unplug the wireless receiver from the USB port on my laptop and plug it into the USB on my desk top and that allows me to use my wireless keyboard/mouse only on that computer.

Tip for gamers:

You may want to quit out of Synergy when playnig games, since I have found the program gets "confused" when you move your mouse pointer off the screen while playing games and thinks you want to move to the other computer.

To visit the Synergy web page or get more inforation  Click Here

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