I have been tinkering with linux distros for a while now, my favourite (generally) would have to be Ubuntu. It is one of the few that installs quickly and simply on most of my systems here.
A package I also use is Synergy. This is one of the best pieces of software ever developed for multi-desktop computing. Much better than VNC and Remote Desktop, although they each serve their purpose and offer different functionality.
To learn more about Synergy, visit http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/
To learn how to install it in OpenSolaris (I am using preview 2) it is simply a matter of:
wget ftp://ftp.sunfreeware.com/pub/freeware/intel/10/libgcc-3.4.6-sol10-x86-l...
gunzip libgcc-3.4.6-sol10-x86-local.gz
pkgadd -G -d libgcc-3.4.6-sol10-x86-local
wget ftp://ftp.sunfreeware.com/pub/freeware/intel/10/synergy-1.3.1-sol10-x86-...
gunzip synergy-1.3.1-sol10-x86-local.gz
pkgadd -G -d synergy-1.3.1-sol10-x86-local
You have to make sure that /usr/local/bin is in your path.
tip: I use/prefer BASH, to edit the user path for BASH in OpenSolaris you HAVE to edit the file .bashrc located in your home directory. Editing it anywhere else will have no effect since (in Preview 2) this file explicitly defines the path WITHOUT inheriting the original path. You have been warned (it took me a few hours to find this!)
for ubuntu there is an excellent walkthru here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynergyHowto
note: for the ubuntu install, make sure you have added the universe repositories http://dav3.net/ubuntu/repositories
I have used Synergy before (a software based KVM—without the V), but I haven’t used it for ages. It has moved on (after a period of inactive development) and appears to have at least two forks. I’ve since re-installed it, and it was a LOT easier this time. But the screen saver wasn’t synchronising. The client laptop’s screen would never go to sleep regardless of whether it’s synergy client was connected to the synergy server or not.