Synergy?

[retsnom]

Hello. Has anyone tried using Synergy? I'm trying to share my desktop's keyboard and mouse with my laptop, which are both running Windows 7. My laptop reports that it is connected to my desktop, however my desktop just says "Waiting for clients..." and nothing happens.

Thanks for reading.

 

[johngalt]

Got a better idea - use Remote Desktop. It's built into Windows 7.

Hell bent on using Synergy? (I don't blame you - it rocks, after all - I used it for numerous years) - you'll need to make exceptions for the port (24000? I cannot remember, check the FAQs for Synergy) to both computers' Firewall to allow the client install to see the server install. Of course, this assumes you already have Synergy installed on both machines and configured correctly (it sound like you do - in that you have your desktop set as server and the laptop set as client)...so check the firewall settings on both computers.

 

[retsnom]

Thanks for the reply.

I still can't get it to work. I have my firewalls off, made sure that I'm portforwarded for both computers. My laptop connects to my desktop but my desktop's server status only shows:

NOTE: started server
INFO: screen "Computer-desktop" shape changed

The weird thing is, even if I don't start the server on my desktop and just start the client on my laptop, it'll still say that it's "connected to server".

I had everything working on the Windows XP counterparts so the only thing I can think of is Windows 7 giving me problems. Any ideas?

As for the Remote Desktop, I can't find a practical use for it, at least when my laptop is right next to my desktop. Unless there is something I'm missing..?

 

[mikinho]

Try Input Director if you are using Windows only clients. Much better and actively developed.

 

[retsnom]

I've tried it already and though it has more functions than Synergy, it "lags" when I start to drag/resize windows on the slave side. :|

And it also doesn't offer a better monitor positioning than the simple horizontal/vertical positioning, at least from what I could tell.

 

[johngalt]

Thanks for the reply.

I still can't get it to work. I have my firewalls off, made sure that I'm portforwarded for both computers. My laptop connects to my desktop but my desktop's server status only shows:

NOTE: started server
INFO: screen "Computer-desktop" shape changed

The weird thing is, even if I don't start the server on my desktop and just start the client on my laptop, it'll still say that it's "connected to server".

I had everything working on the Windows XP counterparts so the only thing I can think of is Windows 7 giving me problems. Any ideas?

As for the Remote Desktop, I can't find a practical use for it, at least when my laptop is right next to my desktop. Unless there is something I'm missing..?

Firewall off = bad. Turn the firewall on and make exceptions for the ports that Synergy is set to use. The W7 firewall is even more integrated than Vista's was, and turning it off does not always give your system free reign to network devices and protocols as most would think.

Try Input Director if you are using Windows only clients. Much better and actively developed.

Nice find - never heard of this one before....

I've tried it already and though it has more functions than Synergy, it "lags" when I start to drag/resize windows on the slave side. :|

And it also doesn't offer a better monitor positioning than the simple horizontal/vertical positioning, at least from what I could tell.

Bummer - I thought it was gonna be my new friend....

But I m sticking with remote desktop - it has native folder sharing as well, making my life (managing PCs) a lot easier....

If enabling the firewall and giving both synergyc.exe and synergy.exe (if I remember the names correctly) unbridled access in the firewall *should* make it work.

Also, is either connected to a homegroup? If so, turn that off and see if it is causing problems (I recall reading somewhere that the homegroup feature of W7 tends to hose W7 <--> W7 connections if one is a part of a home group and the other is not).

 

[mikinho]

Nice find - never heard of this one before....

Bummer - I thought it was gonna be my new friend....

I'd still try it out if you have a need for software based KVM or more display space.

I use Input Director on over 15 systems and do not experience any lag. It handles file copying and clipboard quite nicely as well. Some of the default settings aren't my favorite but otherwise I very nice piece of software.

 

[johngalt]

I might - but as I said, Remote Desktop is my new best friend - it makes like a lot easier as I can connect to machines sitting next to me as well as machine sin another room, building, across campus, and even (if need be ) miles away. It is how I now connect to my home computer form my laptop when I am on campus - now I really have no excuse when homework is due

Plus, we use it with the servers anyway, so it makes getting into a rhythm much easier - using multiple products annoys me somewhat, and RDP/RDC work well for what I need them to do.

Along those lines, since I have dual monitors at home, it is easy enough to have 'two machines' on 2 displays - local and remote.

I will still give this a try though - never hurts to have a backup mechanism, plus testing for Windows 7 compatibilities is always a plus.

 

[Fulcanelli]

I might - but as I said, Remote Desktop is my new best friend - it makes like a lot easier as I can connect to machines sitting next to me as well as machine sin another room, building, across campus, and even (if need be ) miles away.

I am having the same problem as the original poster... Remote Desktop doesn't cut it because I want to actively use the monitors on all the machines. I believe this worked fine with Win7Beta but not Win7RC. I've also made the firewall allowances and am running Synergy as admin on both computers. Has anyone had any luck with getting this to work?

 

[johngalt]

Try not running Synergy as admin.

 

[Fulcanelli]

Thanks, yup I tried not running as 'admin' first and that's when I saw the initial failure. I've never seen anything fail when running as admin that worked as non-admin though.

In case it helps anyone else:
I've fixed it for me by turning off WiFi and plugging in a cable.

I am using a personal notebook (non-domain) with a work computer (domain).
I tried enabling the rules to allow all types of connections (not just domain) and to not block NAT transversal, but it didn't work. I've gotten a network switch and another cable so my notebook is now hardwired in and it's working for me.

 

[johngalt]

If one is on a domain and one not, it may be a GPO from the domain that is blocking the connection regardless of what you do - you'll need to check with your domain admins on that....

 

[DIFEASTER]

I am running Synergy on two Windows 7 RC machines as admin and have not touched the firewall.

Check that the computer names are correct.

Have you set up your network?

Are the port numbers the same?

DAVE©

 

[retsnom]

After playing around for a bit, still can't get it to work. Like I posted previously, it's weird how the laptop side always reports that it's connected to my desktop, regardless of the OS it's booted on(XP or 7).

I am running Synergy on two Windows 7 RC machines as admin and have not touched the firewall.

Check that the computer names are correct.

Have you set up your network?

Are the port numbers the same?

DAVE©

Yea, doubled checked everything. At least there are hopes of getting this to work, thanks for your post.

 

[isherwood]

I'm also running Synergy successfully between my main machine (Win7) and a Dell notebook running WinXP Pro. It installed effortlessly with nothing more than access permission from 7.

 

[xotzil]

Great!

Thank you very much. I was a little frustrated about not getting synergy woking on Windows 7. Remote Desktop is not the same, becauuse I need the space on my displays.

I could not imagine that /'s firewall blocks the port even if switched off. But entering the exeptions (I entered the application "synergys plus port 24800) solved my problem.

Just for the records: Windows7 Ultimate 64 Bit Geman, installed as upgrade over an existing Installation of Vista 64 Ultimate German.

Again:

Thank you very much for the advice.

By

XoTZIL

 

[JRHelgeson]

Apparetnly, Synergy doesn't work on Win7 x64

Hello. Has anyone tried using Synergy? I'm trying to share my desktop's keyboard and mouse with my laptop, which are both running Windows 7. My laptop reports that it is connected to my desktop, however my desktop just says "Waiting for clients..." and nothing happens.

Thanks for reading.

I'm having the same problems with Windows 7. Synergy flat out does not work with Windows 7 x64 bit version.

I've been using Synergy for years, it is the only package that will permit me to configure my monitors to work. I have 4 monitors mounted 2x2 or :: (each dot=monitor)
To the left of my quad setup, I have a landscape rotated monitor that is attached to my laptop below it, so it is:
;::

I've used Synergy to map the left side of the monitor to go to the right side of the laptop and its extended display. Input director does not work because it wants all your monitors to be configured in a straight line.. so when I scroll back to my destop quad monitor, my cursor appears on the rightmost monitor, instead of scrolling back in from the left.

Synergy works with 32bit Windows 7. I used it for months using my desktop running vista 32 as the master.

Once I reinstalled a clean copy of Win7 ultimate x64, synergy will not work, period.

I have disabled the firewall on both machines. Tried running it in admin mode, then as compatible for Windows xp SP2, no avail. It simply will not talk.

I just wanted to add my 2 cents, and hopefully figure out if anyone gets an answer.

 

[DIFEASTER]

I don't know about your array of four monitors but I confirm again that Synergy WORKS with my 3 computers (Windows 7 Ultimate; Windows 7 RC and My Sony Laptop running XP Pro). One display per PC.

Is your network working? Can you explore the other PC's? Are the PC names correct in Synergy?

For info, I have all copies of Synergy set to run when I log in. The whole system kicks in a few seconds after the PC's are up and running. I ma using the windows firewall on W7 machines and Zonealarm on my XP laptop. ZA had to be told about Synergy but the windows firewall did not need any adjustment.

Cheers!

 

[JRHelgeson]

Are you using win7 x64?

 

[DIFEASTER]

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Windows 7 RC x32
Windows XP pro