Synergy

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Bug #19 - VMware - Ctrl/Shift/Alt keys not passed to application on client machine

Status:
Accepted
Priority:
High
Assignee:
None
Category:
System
Target:
None
Found:
1.3.6
Created by:
Created on:
4 Mar 2009
Updated by:
Updated on:
25 Nov 2012 13:54
Platform:
Linux
Google ID:
gc-10
Redmine ID:
20

Google user: smith.timsmith

What steps will reproduce the problem?
Running two Ubuntu machines. Running vmware workstation 6.5 on the client
machine. Mouse and unmodified keystrokes work fine in vmware workstation.
Pressing any modification keys (ctrl/alt/shift/etc.) causes the keystrokes
to be lost.

  1. Start a virtual machine in vmware workstation on the client
  2. While outside the vm all modified keys work
  3. While in the vm modified keys do not work

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

Keystrokes should pass to the application.

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?

Ubuntu 8.10 on both client and server. Server is running Ubuntu 8.10
64bit, client is 32bit. VMWare workstation on client is version 6.5.

Please provide any additional information below.

Based on other bug reports related to keys getting stuck and keystrokes
getting lost I would say there is an issue with how keys are pushed to the
client. Perhaps should look at how VNC hooks the keyboard?

Work around: Load synergy in the virtual machine and attach the virtual
machine to another part of the monitor. (i.e. Client machine monitor is
configured as being on the right. Virtual machine "monitor" is configured
as being above.)

To the guy that started the synergy-plus project. YOU ROCK! I started
using Synergy a month ago and love it except for this problem.


#1

30 Mar 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: vcarless

I've also had this problem when using Windows RA (remote access). If the server
machine (the one with the mouse and keyboard) connects to a second Windows machine,
and then the second Windows machine is used to RA to a 3rd machine, the left shift
key does not work.


#2

30 Mar 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: smith.timsmith

Anyone commenting here, please indicate what keyboard you are using. I am not sure
if it matters but just in case...

I am using US multimedia keyboard.


#3

9 Apr 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: rac_swo...@hotmail.com

for the ubuntu user, the problem in part has to do with vmware workstation. try this:
xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true

in the file /etc/vmware/config for the whole machine. this will work too:

sudo echo "xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true" >> /etc/vmware/config

or for just the current user:

echo "xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true" >> ~/.vmware/config  

#4

1 May 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: grim.brad

@Comment 1 by vcarless, Mar 30, 2009

I have a similar issue. Windows server, Windows client, client remote desktops to
another Windows machine, then the RIGHT shift key does not work within the remote
desktop session.

Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro. Both Synergy machines are using a US keyboard layout
and English (United States) input language.


#5

27 May 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: nick.bolton.uk

smith.timsmith, thanks for the bug report. I have marked this to be fixed for the
next milestone.


27 May 2009: Issue Importer changed Status.

New Accepted


27 May 2009: Issue Importer changed Target.

?


#6

19 Aug 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: nick.bolton.uk


19 Aug 2009: Issue Importer changed Target.

? ?


#7

28 Oct 2009: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: jasonirwin73

An almost identical problem affects the use of VirtualBox clients as well. Will the
fix for VMware correct the VBox issue as well?


#8

28 Oct 2009: wrote a comment.

-Missing comment-


#9

5 Jun 2010: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: nick.bolton.uk


5 Jun 2010: Issue Importer changed Target.

? ?


#10

23 Aug 2010: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: lwaynewalker

I too see this problem under VMware Fusion guests on OS X 10.6.3


#11

23 Aug 2010: Issue Importer wrote a comment.

Google user: lwaynewalker

I applied the xkeycode directive from comment 3 to no avail.


#12

1 Jan 2011 19:19: Merlin Hansen wrote a comment.

I have seen this problem in two scenarios. In both I use a linux server (Mandriva Linux, currently 2010.1) with both Mac and Windows clients.

  1. Windows remote desktop on XP pro client:

* Left shift key does not work. All other modifiers do.
* Works in client machine just not in a remote desktop session.
* Remote desktop was to both Win2k3 and WinXP targets
* This does appear to work fine with a Win 7 client running remote desktop connections to same targets listed above.

  1. Shift keys do not work in VM Fusion Win7 guest hosted on Snow Leopard 10.6.5

* Caps-lock works
* modifiers work on Mac client.
* not sure if I have seen this in previous installs (different synergy versions and vm guest versions).

Although I am using 1.4.2 across the board I have seen the first issue in earlier versions. I have used two different keyboards: A Lenovo US and a Dell Multimedia US keyboard.


13 Jan 2011 16:33: Nick Bolton changed Priority.

Normal High


13 Jan 2011 16:33: Nick Bolton changed Target.

?


#13

24 May 2011 23:00: Roger Wilco wrote a comment.

Updating this issue with another scenario:

I am using synergy 1.3.6 on both server and client. My server is running on Ubuntu 10.10, and my client on OSX 10.6.7. On my OSX client, I am running VMware Fusion with a Windows 7 instance. Whenever I have the VMware Fusion window in focus, I cannot use the Shift, Control or Alt keys. Capslock works, however.

This behavior does NOT happen (i.e. modifier keys work as expected in VMware through) when the client is running 1.3.4 (synergy+).


#14

4 Jul 2011 02:45: Aldo Cortesi wrote a comment.

I can confirm this with a recent checkout from source. The server is Ubuntu, client is OSX. No modifier keys are passed to a VMWare client running on the OSX machine. As previously reported, this problem is not present in 1.3.6, but unfortunately other problems with that release prevent me from downgrading.


#15

4 Jul 2011 02:45: Aldo Cortesi wrote a comment.

I can confirm this with a recent checkout from source. The server is Ubuntu, client is OSX. No modifier keys are passed to a VMWare client running on the OSX machine. As previously reported, this problem is not present in 1.3.6, but unfortunately other problems with that release prevent me from downgrading.


#16

8 Sep 2011 17:22: Ryan Ray wrote a comment.

Also having this same issue with 1.3.6. Win7 as a server, OSX 10.7 as a client that is also running VMWare fusion. Quite frustrating.


#17

28 Mar 2012 21:32: Vishal Verma wrote a comment.

Seeing the same problem with 1.3.6, Linux (Ubuntu) server, mac client, and a windows VM in Parallels on the mac.


#18

26 Jul 2012 16:05: Pepe Kamik wrote a comment.

Seeing the same problem with Redhat Linux 6 (synergy server 1.4.9), Mac OSX Lion (client 1.4.9), Parallels 7 (windows 7 VM not receiving the modifiers keys SHIFT, ALT, CTRL.. Numeric keyboard not working either.. CAPS LOCK works though)


#19

14 Nov 2012 18:06: Isaac Saito wrote a comment.

Same issue. Server & Client: Ubuntu 12.04. Synergys & Synergyc 1.3.8. Great work!!!


#20

14 Nov 2012 18:17: Isaac Saito wrote a comment.

Correction for my post #19. SHIFT & ALT work. Only CTRL (which I swap with CAPS) is not working. VMWare Player 5.0.0 with various VM OS (Win 7 (both 32b & 64b), Ubuntu 11.10, Ubuntu 12.10).


25 Nov 2012 13:54: Nick Bolton changed Title.

Ctrl/Shift/Alt keys not passed to application on client machine VMware - Ctrl/Shift/Alt keys not passed to application on client machine


25 Nov 2012 13:54: Nick Bolton changed Category.

System


25 Nov 2012 13:54: Nick Bolton changed Found.

1.3.6


25 Nov 2012 13:54: Nick Bolton changed Platform.

Linux