How to Host a Synergy Server

Welcome, Dev! Are you interested in hosting your own Synergy server? Whether you want to use Synergy to share your keyboard and mouse across multiple devices or to collaborate with others remotely, hosting your own server can provide you with greater flexibility and control over your Synergy setup. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up and hosting your own Synergy server. Let’s get started!

1. Install Synergy

The first step in hosting a Synergy server is to install Synergy on the device that you want to use as your server. Synergy is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download the latest version of Synergy from the Synergy website. Once you have downloaded the installer, run it and follow the prompts to install Synergy on your device.

After installing Synergy, you will need to create a Synergy configuration file. The configuration file contains information about the devices that you want to connect to your server. You can create the configuration file manually using a text editor or you can use the Synergy Configuration Tool to create the file for you.

Using the Synergy Configuration Tool

The Synergy Configuration Tool is a graphical user interface that makes it easy to set up your Synergy configuration file. To use the tool, follow these steps:

1. Open the Synergy Configuration Tool.
2. Click the “+ Add” button to add a new device.
3. Select the type of device that you want to add (client or server).
4. Enter the device’s name and IP address.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for each device that you want to add.
6. Click the “Save” button to save your configuration file.

Manually Creating the Synergy Configuration File

If you prefer to create the configuration file manually, you will need to create a text file with the following format:

Section	Key	Value
[sectionname]	keyname	value

Replace “sectionname” with the name of the device that you want to add (e.g., [server]), “keyname” with the name of the key that you want to set (e.g., hostname), and “value” with the value that you want to set for the key (e.g., myservername). Here is an example configuration file:

section: screensserver:client1:halfDuplexCapsLock = falsehalfDuplexNumLock = falsehalfDuplexScrollLock = falseclient2:halfDuplexCapsLock = falsehalfDuplexNumLock = falsehalfDuplexScrollLock = falsesection: aliasesmyservername:myserveraliassection: linksmyservername:left = client1right = client2

Save your configuration file with the .cfg file extension (e.g., synergy.cfg).

2. Start the Synergy Server

After creating your Synergy configuration file, you are ready to start your Synergy server. To start the server, follow these steps:

1. Open Synergy on the device that you want to use as your server.
2. Click the “Start” button to start the server.
3. Verify that the server is running by checking the Synergy status window.

3. Connect to the Synergy Server

After starting your Synergy server, you can connect to it from your other devices. To connect to the server, follow these steps:

1. Open Synergy on the device that you want to connect to the server.
2. Enter the IP address of the Synergy server in the “Server IP” field.
3. Enter the device name that you set in your Synergy configuration file in the “Client Name” field.
4. Click the “Start” button to connect to the server.
5. Verify that the device is connected to the server by checking the Synergy status window.

4. Troubleshooting

Firewall Issues

If you are having trouble connecting to your Synergy server, it may be due to firewall issues. Make sure that your firewall is configured to allow Synergy connections on the appropriate port (default is 24800).

Configuring Synergy as a Service

If you want to run your Synergy server as a service, you can configure it to start automatically when your device boots up. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Create a batch file that starts Synergy using your configuration file.
2. Create a shortcut to the batch file.
3. Copy the shortcut to your startup folder (C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup).

FAQ

1. What is Synergy?

Synergy is a software application that allows you to share your keyboard and mouse across multiple devices. With Synergy, you can control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse.

2. How much does Synergy cost?

Synergy is available in both free and paid versions. The free version provides basic functionality, while the paid version offers additional features and support.

3. What operating systems does Synergy support?

Synergy is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

4. Can I use Synergy over the internet?

Yes, you can use Synergy over the internet. However, you will need to configure your firewall to allow Synergy connections and you may experience latency issues.

5. Can I use Synergy to control a device with a touch screen?

Yes, you can use Synergy to control a device with a touch screen. However, you may need to adjust your Synergy configuration to account for the different input methods.