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Synergy connection timeout (Mac client, Windows 10 server)

[Apologies for posting a non-programming topic, but I thought this post would help others in need.]

I'm trying to get synergy working between a PC and a Mac.

I'm using auto-config, and all the default settings. It works perfectly with the mac as the server.

However, when the PC is the server and the mac as client, the PC first detects a zeroconf client, but then just sits there with no more log messages. Meanwhile, the mac client keeps "timing out" and never connects.

Things I've checked:

  • Windows Firewall is correctly configured to let synergy run - there are rules allowing TCP and UDP connections for the synergy executables
  • I've tried both 32 bit and 64 bit synergy versions
  • I've tried auto-config client, and also tried using the screen name and the IP address.
  • I've tried running with elevated permissions
  • I can PING each machine from the other using the terminal - we are connected to the same Wi-Fi network!

I have a Macbook (10.11) called Ian-Mac.local, with IP address 192.168.0.6.

I have a Windows 10 Laptop called Ian-PC with 5 different IP addresses listed. The default one is 192.168.56.1

Here's the debug-level log from the PC:

[2016-12-06T12:04:49] NOTE: started server, waiting for clients
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: event queue is ready
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: add pending events to buffer
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: screen "Ian-PC" shape changed
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: accepted ipc client connection
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: start ipc handle data
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: ipc read: IHEL
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: finished ipc handle data
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] DEBUG: ipc hello, type=node
[2016-12-06T12:04:49] INFO: watchdog status: ok
[2016-12-06T12:04:50] DEBUG: started process, session=1, elevated: yes, command="C:/Program Files (x86)/Synergy/synergys.exe" -f --no-tray --debug DEBUG --name Ian-PC --ipc --enable-drag-drop --profile-dir "C:\Users\Ian\AppData\Local" -c "C:/Users/Ian/AppData/Local/Temp/qt_temp.ZU7304" --address :24800 --serial-key MY_LICENCE_KEY --res-w 1920 --res-h 1080 --prm-wc 960 --prm-hc 540
[2016-12-06T12:04:55] INFO: zeroconf client detected: Ian-Mac.local

Here's the debug-level log from the mac:

2016-12-06T12:12:02] INFO: starting client
[2016-12-06T12:12:02] INFO: command: /Applications/Synergy.app/Contents/MacOS/synergyc -f --no-tray --debug DEBUG --name Ian-Mac.local --enable-drag-drop 192.168.56.1:24800
[2016-12-06T12:12:02] INFO: config file: /var/folders/k3/rzjn4xxj5tz3j1ygq72cwyj00000gp/T/Synergy.txK899
[2016-12-06T12:12:02] INFO: log level: DEBUG
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] INFO: drag and drop enabled
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: screen shape: center=0,0 size=1920x1080 on 1 display
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: starting watchSystemPowerThread
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: adopting new buffer
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: opened display
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] NOTE: started client
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] NOTE: connecting to '192.168.56.1': 192.168.56.1:24800
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: waiting for carbon loop
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: started watchSystemPowerThread
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: waiting for event loop
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: event queue is ready
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: signalling carbon loop ready
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: add pending events to buffer
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: starting carbon loop
[2016-12-06T12:12:03] DEBUG: carbon loop ready
2016-12-06 12:12:03.091 synergyc[1059:39119] starting cocoa loop
[2016-12-06T12:12:18] WARNING: failed to connect to server: Timed out
[2016-12-06T12:12:18] DEBUG: retry in 1 seconds
[2016-12-06T12:12:19] NOTE: connecting to '192.168.56.1': 192.168.56.1:24800
[2016-12-06T12:12:34] WARNING: failed to connect to server: Timed out
[2016-12-06T12:12:34] DEBUG: retry in 1 seconds
Solution

  • Synergy picked up the wrong IP address!

    I have a Windows 10 Laptop called Ian-PC with 5 different IP addresses listed. The default one is 192.168.56.1

    Running IPCONFIG on the windows machine showed that the IP address picked up by synergy was for my "Ethernet adapter VirtualBox Host-Only Network". The issue was due to my installation of "Virtual Box".

    Instead of using the default IP, I entered the one listed by IPCONFIG as "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi", which was 192.168.0.4