Software to repalce KVM switch?

[ComputerDave]

I have a client that just changed jobs and his last employer had software that did the same thing as a KVM switch. Reportedly, he would move the mouse over beyond the right side of the screen and it would switch to the other machine. Then move the mouse back beyond the left side and it would switch back to the other machine. I've never heard of this, and wouldn't even know what to search for. Did anyone hear of such a thing?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Synergy - Share one mouse & keyboard across computers

Synergy is an app that shares one mouse and one keyboard across multiple computers and monitors. Instant download, easy to setup in minutes.

symless.com

Share Mouse and Keyboard with multiple Mac and Windows computers.

Mouse and Keyboard Sharing to control a Windows or Mac PC with the mouse and keyboard of any other PC. Or drag & drop files between multiple computers.

www.sharemouse.com

There are buckets of them out there. Install agents on all the machines, define a master and POOF.

Not quite a KVM though because each system still needs a dedicated display, but this stuff lets you use a single machine as an interface to many others.

 

[GTP]

"Mouse Without Borders" from Microsoft Garage is ok as is Symless's "Synergy."
Stupid simple to setup and use too.
Synergy works on Windows, Mac and Linux.

I've used both but not for a couple of years now. I think Synergy was a bit better but ymmv.

 

[ComputerDave]

Thank you to you both. Just goes to show even if you've been in the business for years (like me) you never "know it all". Really appreciate the community here.

 

[MudRock]

Thank you to you both. Just goes to show even if you've been in the business for years (like me) you never "know it all". Really appreciate the community here.

There is SO much out there. Nowadays, yes, our knowledge is important, but far more important is our troubleshooting skills and our Google-fu.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Google-fu is the super power. The problem is, we have to know what to search for! I spend most of my time beating myself up because I cannot remember what some stupid thing is called! Double true when looking for some bit of Azure! But that really applies to everything Microsoft, because the names are all so generic.

 

[NJW]

... because the names are all so generic.

This. There should be a law against naming hardware, software and IT services with a dictionary word, English and other languages. Only slightly kidding.

 

[MudRock]

because the names are all so generic.

How about the mass confusion they've caused with renaming their antivirus over and over and over, and then lets name another product "Defender" while we're at it?

 

[timeshifter]

Synergy is a good program. I've got a Mac on the left and a PC on the right, each with their own screen. Haven't used it in a while as I do a bit of gaming on my Windows PC and I had to remember to turn it off, etc. Last night I cleared my desk and tonight I fired up Synergy again, haven't run in more than a year. It fired right up. Forgotten how cool it is.