Installing and Setting Up Barrier (alternative to Synergy/KVM)
This article currently applies to Public Safety. Please proceed if this software needs to be reinstalled or if there are other computers that require KVM capability.
In this article, you will learn how to install Barrier to computers that require KVM switching.
What is Barrier?
Barrier is software that mimics the functionality of a KVM switch, which historically would allow you to use a single keyboard and mouse to control multiple computers by physically turning a dial on the box to switch the machine you're controlling at any given moment. Barrier does this in software, allowing you to tell it which machine to control by moving your mouse to the edge of the screen, or by using a keypress to switch focus to a different system.
How to install Barrier
Before installing
Please ensure that the affected computers are temporarily placed in the GPO Exclusion OU before installing. Failure to do so may cause the installation to halt.
Download Latest Release
As of 5/21/2021, the latest release candidate is v2.3.3.
Start by navigating to this link. This is the GitHub repository where the latest files and releases are stored. You will then look for Releases on the right-hand side of the website. Once you have clicked on the latest release, scroll down and download the latest executable file (.exe).
Install Barrier
Proceed with the installation, accepting the License Agreement and changing the installation destination if needed. Once finished, launch Barrier.
Set Up Barrier
Upon opening the program for the first time, select the language that is appropriate for the workplace that requires the use of Barrier.
Depending on the computer, you will either select Server if this is the central base of operations on which the KVM environment will be exclusively running on, or Client if the computer is supposed to 469pxbe attached to the primary Server. If any changes need to be made later, either option can be easily reversed in the main menu.
After installing the application, you may be presented with a dialog box to enable auto config and install Bonjour. Click Yes and wait until this installation has finished.
