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Support #593

Sharing Mouse and Keyboard on Arch

Added by Daniel Curtis over 9 years ago. Updated over 9 years ago.

Status:
Closed
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
Daniel Curtis
Category:
Workstation
Target version:
Arch Linux
Start date:
04/08/2015
Due date:
% Done:

100%

Estimated time:
1.00 h
Spent time:
3.00 h

Description

I use Arch Linux for my primary workstation OS, however I also have Ubuntu derivative workstations that I occasionally need to access. To make life easier I have one workstation that only has a monitor and network connection and I share my mouse and keyboard from my Arch laptop to with my other Ubuntu-based workstation using synergy. This is a guide to set up sharing a mouse and keyboard on Arch Linux with an Ubuntu client using synergy.

NOTE: This guide has DNS records for workstation1 (Arch) and workstation2 (Ubuntu); if DNS is unavailable, then add IP addresses for the workstations in /etc/hosts.

Setting Up The Synergy Server on Arch

  • Install synergy:
    sudo pacman -S synergy
  • Create a new configuration file:
    sudo cp /etc/synergy.conf.example /etc/synergy.conf
  • Edit the synergy server config file:
    sudo nano /etc/synergy.conf
    • And modify the config accordingly:
      section: screens
        # Define two screen hosts named workstation1 and workstation2
        workstation1:
        workstation2:
end

section: links
        # Set workstation2 above workstation1
        workstation1:
                up    = workstation2

        # Set workstation1 below workstation2
        workstation2:
                down  = workstation1
end
  • Test the server in the foreground, you can run the following command instead:
    synergys -f
^C
  • The synergy server process needs to attach to your user's X session, which means it needs to run as your user. Enable it as the appropriate user:
    systemctl enable synergys@user
systemctl start synergys@user

Setting Up The Synergy Client on Ubuntu

  • Install synergy:
    sudo apt-get install synergy
  • My system is setup to automatically log in, so I added a simple start up application by going to System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications and click Add:
    • Name: Synergy Client
    • Command: /usr/bin/synergyc -f workstation1
    • Comment: Connect to workstation1 keyboard/mouse
    • Save

Setting Up The Synergy Client on Arch

  • Connect to the synergy server manually:
    synergyc workstation1

Synergy With Systemd

  • To start the Synergy client with systemd, create a service file: 
    vi /etc/systemd/system/synergyc@.service
    • And add the following:
      [Unit]
Description=Synergy Client Daemon
After=network.target

[Service]
EnvironmentFile=/etc/conf.d/synergyc.conf
ExecStart=/usr/bin/synergyc --no-daemon --debug ${DEBUGLEVEL:-INFO} ${SERVERALIAS}
User=%i

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
  • And optionally a config file: 
    vi /etc/conf.d/synergyc.conf
    • And add the following:
      DEBUGLEVEL=WARNING
SERVERALIAS=workstation1
  • To start the service for your user,
    systemctl start synergyc@user

Resources

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