Support #593
Updated by Daniel Curtis over 8 years ago
{{>toc}}
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@.
h2. Setting Up The Synergy Server on Arch
* Install synergy:
<pre>
sudo pacman -S synergy
</pre>
* Create a new configuration file:
<pre>
sudo cp /etc/synergy.conf.example /etc/synergy.conf
</pre>
* Edit the synergy server config file:
<pre>
sudo nano /etc/synergy.conf
</pre>
#* And modify the config accordingly:
<pre>
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
</pre>
* Test the server in the foreground, you can run the following command instead:
<pre>
synergys -f
^C
</pre>
* 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:
<pre>
systemctl enable synergys@user
systemctl start synergys@user
</pre>
h2. Setting Up The Synergy Client on Ubuntu
* Install synergy:
<pre>
sudo apt-get install synergy
</pre>
* 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*
h2. Setting Up The Synergy Client on Arch
* Connect to the synergy server manually:
<pre>
synergyc workstation1
</pre>
h3. Synergy With Systemd
* To start the Synergy client with systemd, create a service file:
<pre>
vi /etc/systemd/system/synergyc@.service
</pre>
#* And add the following:
<pre>
[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
</pre>
* And optionally a config file:
<pre>
vi /etc/conf.d/synergyc.conf
</pre>
#* And add the following:
<pre>
DEBUGLEVEL=WARNING
SERVERALIAS=workstation1
</pre>
* To start the service for your user,
<pre>
systemctl start synergyc@user
</pre>
h2. Resources
* https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Synergy
* http://askubuntu.com/questions/15212/start-synergy-on-boot