Synergy is a computer program for sharing a computer keyboard and computer mouse between multiple computers. It is used in situations where you have several IBM PC clone, with a monitor connected to each, but only want to have one keyboard and mouse on the desk — similar to a KVM switch without the V.

Once the program is installed, users can move the mouse off the side of their desktop on one computer, and the mouse-pointer will magically appear on the desktop of another computer. Key-presses will be delivered to whichever computer the mouse-pointer is located in. This makes it possible to control several machines as easily as if they were a single multi-monitor computer.

Other features include clipboard support (cut some text from one machine, and paste it into a document on another machine), and screensaver synchronisation between computers.

Architecturally, the program is implemented as a server which defines which screen-edges lead to which machines, and one or more clients, which connect to the server to offer the use of their desktops. The keyboard and mouse are connected to the server machine.

Ethernet communications are used to send mouse/keyboard and clipboard events between computers, and a big advantage of the system is its ability to work on different types of operating-system (e.g. being able to seamlessly integrate linux and windows machines, even down to the clipboard)

= See also =

= External link =