Teleffect for Win2k and WinXP?

TechnoMage asks: "Before Win2K and XP I used to use software(software only) called Teleffect which lets you use the input from one computer (mouse and keyboard) on any number of other machines on the same network. Instead of using a switch box to control the machines, you use your TCP/IP connection. You would move the mouse off the screen and it would appear on the next computers monitor(similar to how windows now handles multiple monitors). There was no unreasonable limit to how many machines you could control. Teleffect with an install and a little configuring can make any machine controllable not being tied to any hardware restrictions or installation. To make it a little clearer as far as what this thing does. One keyboard and mouse, 10 machine, 10 monitors, 1 out of the 10 machines can control the mouse and keyboard functions of the other 9 machines over the network. You can also cut and paste from the clipboard of one machine to another machine. Once XP and 2K came out, I could not get it to work with them. Not only that but the people responsible for the software are MIA. Does anyone have any updated info on this software and how we can make it work with 2K or XP, or if there is going to be any development for this software, or even if there is something else out there that does the same thing?"

"This software was one of the most important apps on my machines. For those of you who are going to ask 'Well why the hell would you want to do anything like this and why don't you just buy more keyboards and mice (all of which I already have)', there was a earlier article about someone needing something similar to this and I don't think a solution was ever found.

I read over the majority of the posts on that thread and it has A lot of suggestions and info.. but none of them close to what this software does. Most of them were very expensive and dependent on hardware.

The software also works with Unix/Linux machines. I tried to contact the company about a newer version, if they were still developing it and so far, no luck. I haven't received a response from them in the 2 years I have been emailing them (about 5 emails). Everything I find on the net is for the Unix version which also seems to have stopped development. I was also able to find mention of an SGI version, and found a link to the original manufacturer of the Windows version.

For anyone who has multiple computers and would like more desk space, this software is the answer. When I had it working I was basically using a few machines to control about 10 (the number went up and down). I had maybe 3 keyboards/mice on the desktop while all the rest were sitting on top of or next to machines. I had plenty of desktop space and it worked flawlessly. Surprisingly enough, it even worked with a few games. The workflow possible with this was fantastic.. instead of a workspace with multiple monitors I had a workspace using multiple monitors with multiple machines. Using the full speed of machines with tasks split between them (3D animation production as well as anything else I needed) there was no slowdown because of a million apps running. Does anyone here at Slashdot have a replacement for this software or knows of any other software that also does this? I think a lot of people out there could use it.

Thanks again for any assistance you may be able to provide."

Comments

Synergy

[PyromanFO]

Synergy

Thank you, drive through.

Re:Synergy

[phUnBalanced]

one of THE BEST applications.

I've been using this for a bit under a year now. I have to linux boxes, monitors side by side, and it works beautifully.

I also run it on my laptop, and when I plug my network into the laptop. suddenly it becomes a third device.

For the occasion that I need to reboot into windows and play some games, synergy also works there!

I just can't say enough good things about this program.

VNC (using x2vnc, for linux)

[dschuetz]

I do something very much like this with VNC. I've got VNC server running (as a service, so I can lock / unlock the Windows box) on a Win2K desktop. Then, on my linux box, I start up x2vnc, pointing it at the aforementioned desktop, and giving it an edge where the desktops connect. Then, when I drag the mouse from the linux machine over towards the Windows monitor, the mouse and all keyboard input change focus accordingly.

It's all very cool.

I think there's a vnc2vnc (or something like that) that allows this to be used amongst multiple windows desktops.

VNC + Win2VNC

[lubeboy]

VNC sessions on the other boxen, each with win2vnc to allow the mouse to go to the next terminal when the edge is hit. Win2VNC

Re: insecurity

[phUnBalanced]

if your lan is insecure, pipe it through ssh.

Come on, did that really have to be pointed out?

Re: insecurity

[gl4ss]

not really they state it on their homepage too somewhere iirc.

synergy is a great program, i just wish someone ported it to beos as well ;), ah one can wish..

and really, this is the thing the guy was looking for anyways though i must confess that bumping into synergy is a bit tricky, though with google search "windows linux keyboard sharing tcp" you would find synergy on the 3rd page.

also i don't see anybody yet mentioning the clipboard somewhat functionality(copypaste between screens/os's).

Okay, a clearer explaination

[djkitsch]

Since this seems to confuse many people, here goes:

You have 3 PCs all in constant use, all with keyboard and mouse (KM for future ease), and you want to control all 3 from the same KM combo. You could connect all three monitors to one PC and run 2 copies of VNC to view the other two desktops, but that would consume network and CPU resources. So:

1) Leave all 3 monitors connected and move them next to each other.
2) Run Synergy or similar on all 3 PCs, setting the middle PC as the Server.
3) Put the two other PC's KMs somewhere out of the way.
4) Now, your KM for the middle PC will work as normal, except when you reach the side of the desktop with your mouse cursor, it will move off that PC's desktop and onto the desktop of the adjacent PC.
5) Now you have what looks like a PC with 3 monitors connected, except the two side monitors are running on individual PCs, controlled by the master PC's KM. Each PC can do its own thing, but can be controlled as easily as the centre PC.