Controlling Multiple PC's from just one

RVFmal

RVFmal

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For ages I have been looking at trying to control more than one PC from one terminal and no matter how many times I asked if anyone knew of a way to do this on multiple forums I never got any luck.

So after months of trawling the net I came across this article (by an Aussie no less) that was extremely helpful.

Now one does not have to buy KVM switches and hardware to control PC's around you or in another room. There are two software programs that can assist you, one being Open Source and the other being Retail . I prefer the OS system due to the low cost:) , but feature for feature they are both fantastic.

I hope that this will help some of you who might have need for a set-up such as this.
 
Do these differ significantly from the likes of the cross platform VNC or even Microsoft's Remote Desktop for that environment?
 
bwana v.6 said:
Do these differ significantly from the likes of the cross platform VNC or even Microsoft's Remote Desktop for that environment?
Click to expand...

I was also wondering that but after reading a little, this method is not desktop sharing like VNC but rather multi-monitor support i.e one keyboard and mouse and multiple operating systems on multiple monitors.

Thats what I got for now but I'm installing it now and see what it can really do.
 
nic777 said:
I was also wondering that but after reading a little, this method is not desktop sharing like VNC but rather multi-monitor support i.e one keyboard and mouse and multiple operating systems on multiple monitors.

Thats what I got for now but I'm installing it now and see what it can really do.
Click to expand...
Correct.
 
nic777 said:
Yep, it works and its pretty sweet.

Thanks for the link!
Click to expand...
No problem. I take it you are refering to Synergy?
 
Thanks for that. I'll have to give that Open Source one a try even though it says the Mac port is incomplete.
RFVmal said:
So after months of trawling the net I came across this article (by an Aussie no less) that was extremely helpful.
Click to expand...
I dont think he's an aussie just a cnet.com editior. The same article was published before that on the cnet.com parent site.
 
RVFmal said:
No problem. I take it you are refering to Synergy?
Click to expand...

Yep, prefer to use open-source. I'm currently using it to control a windows PC next to me from my Linux laptop.

Its sooo easy. Just move my mouse to the right and my mouse appears on the other screen, controlling the other PC. No more moving from the laptop just to check something on the windows PC!

I assume this is very bandwidth effecient as you are only controlling the mouse and keyboard.

Thanks again.
 
bwana v.6 said:
Thanks for that. I'll have to give that Open Source one a try even though it says the Mac port is incomplete.
I dont think he's an aussie just a cnet.com editior. The same article was published before that on the cnet.com parent site.
Click to expand...
No problem.

nic777 said:
Yep, prefer to use open-source. I'm currently using it to control a windows PC next to me from my Linux laptop.

Its sooo easy. Just move my mouse to the right and my mouse appears on the other screen, controlling the other PC. No more moving from the laptop just to check something on the windows PC!

I assume this is very bandwidth effecient as you are only controlling the mouse and keyboard.
Click to expand...

As do I. There are a lot of OSS programs out there that just are not up to scratch (but then again you get what you pay for), but there are just as many that are worth more than their weight in gold.

I am a big supporter of OSS myself. The system uses very little resources and a small amount of bandwidth across the network connection (dependent on what you are working on of course and if you are moving files from one PC to the other).
 
I have used synergy before, with one central pc and one on each side as clients, the only comment I have is that
1) when it works it works well
2) if the server pc reboots and the clients dfont, then the whole thing went out of sync and wouldnt connect anymore, which meant I had to conenct keyboards to the clients to reboot them...a pain really once you get used to the benefits of the system

So, synergy is a softKM (keyboard mouse)
I did hear of a soft V (video program) which allows yout o use any system on your lan as an extended display/extended desktop (come home from work, put your laptop on the lan and the laptop lcd can now function as Monitor2 for the desktop) but for the life of me I cant remeber the name...doh
 
werner said:
So, synergy is a softKM (keyboard mouse)
I did hear of a soft V (video program) which allows yout o use any system on your lan as an extended display/extended desktop (come home from work, put your laptop on the lan and the laptop lcd can now function as Monitor2 for the desktop) but for the life of me I cant remeber the name...doh
Click to expand...

OOoooo....I want that!! Come on, rattle those brains of yours!
 
I use vnc @ home (linux<->win) - it's better than a lot of paid for options out there and is very configurable
 
werner said:
nic777, I have prayed to the memory gods, and they blessed me with some recollection, which coupled with google enabled me to get the name of the thing.

here you go
http://www.maxivista.com/multi_monitor.htm
Click to expand...

thanks werner. Pity that it is not open-source and that it runs only on Windows but its still a great product. I mean, check out this page
http://www.maxivista.com/mirror_screen.htm

and go down to Powerpoint support. Just think of the possibilties with that! Read your notes, see whats slide is coming next and still drive the presentaion - awesome!

Oh and check http://www.maxivista.com/kvm.htm for all those guys who still don't know what we are going on about. This page shows what you can do with Synergy.

/me goes off to synergy forums to demand desktop extension feature

:)
 
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