Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

A Network-Based Software KVM Switch?

Posted by timothy on from the that-would-take-some-cooperation dept.

ScanTron writes "This seems like such an obvious piece of software, but I can't find any implementation. Like many Slashdot users, I have a Windows PC next to my Linux PC. Rather than using a KVM switch, I have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor for each PC. I'm looking for software that would let me use only one keyboard and mouse for both machines. Ideally, moving the mouse to the edge of one PC's screen would move it onto the next, letting me send mouse and keyboard events over the network. There is no reason this couldn't be used for two Linux machines, or even a Linux machine, a Windows machine, and a Mac. Does a similar solution for mouse and keyboard sharing exist?"

13 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Wow. by cbiffle · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, it exists.

    If both machines are X-windows, use x2x.

    If the master machine is X and the slave is not, use x2vnc.

    If you have a different config, google for one of those terms and use the Windows package (I have no experience with it, but I think it's called something creative like win2vnc.)

  2. Synergy by AllMightyPaul · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergy2

    Works with windows and X-11.

    1. Re:Synergy by optikSmoke · · Score: 5, Informative

      Thankyou, we have a winner!

      Synergy's a great piece of software, I've been using it for awhile now. On top of the mouse/keyboard support, it also shares clipboards and can sync screensavers across your machines (though I've never setup the screensaver thing so I can't comment on it -- but the clipboards work great!). Anyway, I second the recommendation.

  3. Synergy by Bistronaut · · Score: 3, Informative

    Synergy

  4. stupid question but... by blackcoot · · Score: 3, Informative

    urm... why not a hardware kvm? the two ports are in the sub $50 range last i checked...

  5. software for both below ... by cs · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://freshmeat.net/projects/x2vnc/

    Drives a Windows display (that has a VNC service) from your X display.

    http://freshmeat.net/projects/x2x/

    Drives another X11 display from your X display.

    Each may be attached to any edge of your main display and grab the mouse and
    keyboard as it crosses that edge, then driving the other display.

    Exactly what you asked for. Very Very Useful.

    --
    Cameron Simpson, DoD#743 cs@cskk.id.au http://www.cskk.ezoshosting.com/cs/
  6. Go with hardware by green+pizza · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you really want KVM-over-IP, you'll want a hardware solution. A software-only setup won't help you with BIOS or networking problems. With a hardware-based KVM-over-IP you can have multiple network (and non-networked) paths back to the KVM itself.

    I love the Raritan Dominion KX series, it's both a classic KVM and a IP-enabled KVM:
    http://www.raritan.com/products/kvm_switches/domin ion_kx/prd_line.aspx

    If you haven't worked with high-end KVMs before, don't be alarmed by the RJ-45 ports on the Raritan models. High end KVMs use Cat5 cable and adapters, it's quite handy and cheaper than buying thick bundles of coax for RGBHV.

  7. pretty common by green+pizza · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think Dell gets their KVM-over-IP equipment from Avocent, though there are other providers, such as Raritan. The best setups allow for a hybrid combination of traditional rackmount matrix KVM and more modern KVM-over-IP.

    Also note that not all Cat5/RJ45 KVM units support KVM-over-IP. Many units simply use Cat5 cable to cut down on cost. (Cat5 plus an adapter on either end is cheaper than long runs of coax for video plus USB or PS/2 cables and repeaters.

  8. VNC is the choice for me by Lord+Prox · · Score: 2, Informative
    I have been using Ultr@VNC for a while now and it is not quite as slick an Synergy but it hase some nifty features...
    I use it to do tech support on remote (east coast-west coast)machines without the airline BS. Small, fits on a floppy small. And it just works.
    • File xfer
    • chat windows... great for remote support
    • Auto bandwith throttling. Good for slow connections
    • Auto screen scaling. So you 1280x1024 remote machine can been seen on your 800x600 laptop
    • ctrl-alt-esc send capibilities and such
    • full VNC compatible
    • Java web based viewer option. Admin your server from your cell phone or PDA
    • lots of other little things to make life easier
  9. osx2x, x2x, x2vnc, and win2vnc by lpontiac · · Score: 4, Informative

    All of these let you move your mouse off the side of a screen on the machine running the program, over to another machine.

    osx2x - control another machine via X11 or VNC, from a Mac.

    x2x (check your OS' package collection) - control another machine via X11, from an X11 host.

    x2vnc (again, check for packages) - control another machien via VNC, from an X11 host.

    win2vnc - control another machine via VNC, from a Windows host.

  10. rdesktop by kraut · · Score: 2, Informative

    rdesktop

    Like Windows Remote Desktop, but running on Unix. I use it on my home network because I got fed up with all the KVM cables.

    --
    no taxation without representation!
  11. Synergy over SSH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've seen a bunch of comments about Synergy. it works very well for me, as i have a Sun running Solaris 9 next to my Intel/Linux box, sharing the sun kbd and mouse.

    The great thing about synergy is that you can easily tunnel it over SSH, so you are not sending any login/passwd/other sensitive info over the net in plaintext.

    to do this:
    1. set up the server one one machine, configure, and start ('synergys' from the CL).
    2. set up a tunnel on port 24800 from the client to the server ('ssh -L24800:server:24800 you@server' --may vary by SSH flavor. also, 24800 is the default port, you can use another, should you care to, just specify it when starting the client).
    3. start the client on the client machine looking for a server on the localhost (synergyc localhost).
    4. Enjoy the extra deskspace after stashing the extra keyboards!

    hope this helps someone.

  12. Synergy is KM, not KVM by querencia · · Score: 2, Informative

    One thing about Synergy: it is a KM (Keyboard and Mouse only), not KVM (ie, no video -- you can use one mouse and keyboard, but you still have to have two monitors). The original question said that there are two monitors there already, so Synergy would work for him, but it is not a solution for multiple computers (unless your desk looks like Tank's).

    The Synergy FAQ said that KVM functionality may be added in the future.