Synergy (software)
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| Original author(s) | Chris Schoeneman |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Chris Schoeneman, Nick Bolton, et al. |
| Initial release | 13 May 2001 |
| Stable release |
1.8.4 / 11 October 2016
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| Repository | github |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| License | GNU General Public License, version 2 |
| Website | symless |
Synergy is a software application for sharing a keyboard and mouse between multiple computers. It is used in situations where several PCs are used together, with a monitor connected to each, but are to be controlled by one user. The user needs only one keyboard and mouse on the desk — similar to a KVM switch without the video.
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Synergy is free software.
The first version of Synergy (created on May 13, 2001 by Chris Schoeneman, also known as "crs") worked with the X Window System only, but more recent versions of Synergy support Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems.
A fork of Synergy named Synergy+ was started in 2009, but this fork project has since been merged back into Synergy.
Once the program is installed, users can move the mouse "off" the side of their desktop on one computer, and the mouse-pointer will appear on the desktop of another computer. Key presses will be delivered to whichever computer the mouse-pointer is located in. This makes it possible to control several machines as easily as if they were a single multi-monitor computer. The clipboard and even screensavers can be synchronized.
Architecturally, the program is implemented as a server which defines which screen-edges lead to which machines, and one or more clients, which connect to the server to offer the use of their desktops. The keyboard and mouse are connected to the server machine.
TCP/IP communications (default port 24800) are used to send mouse/keyboard and clipboard events between computers.
Communications are not encrypted, with key presses, mouse movements and clipboard contents sent to Synergy clients easily able to be sniffed on network traffic.
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