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Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

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Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#11

Post by pknomad »

prmoustache wrote: post #8

Pardon my ignorance but why would you need an app to manage keyboards and mice in the first place? Aren't they supported out of the box by generic drivers?

Fair question.

In general, custom configuration on both mice (DPI, refresh rate, etc) and keyboards (tactile response settings [See https://wooting.io/], hot binds, etc).

It's a nice to have (almost to the point of necessity) especially when you go to LANs and need a consistent way to load your settings on a computer that's not yours.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#12

Post by Joel_Mckay »

prmoustache wrote: post #8

Pardon my ignorance but why would you need an app to manage keyboards and mice in the first place? Aren't they supported out of the box by generic drivers?

In most cases, most usb wireless hid-devices auto-bind on most linux distros, but some models of mice/keyboards do require wireless pairing after a battery change (they may or may not be Bluetooth.)

It is an "install if needed" utility if your mouse seems dead after a battery change or wireless power cycle. =)

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#13

Post by rostigerpudel »

prmoustache wrote: post #8

Pardon my ignorance but why would you need an app to manage keyboards and mice in the first place? Aren't they supported out of the box by generic drivers?

Most Logitech devices have settings for particular parameters that are not covered by generic drivers. E.g on my MX Master, I can set what events the buttons (it has 6) will generate. My K810 has borked function keys (they trigger special events instead of just being good old F1). You can switch these back to standard function using software. Edit: typos

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#14

Post by rostigerpudel »

prmoustache wrote: post #8

Pardon my ignorance but why would you need an app to manage keyboards and mice in the first place? Aren't they supported out of the box by generic drivers?

Also, working Linux software to pair new devices with unifying receivers is great to have.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#15

Post by Joel_Mckay »

brocket wrote: post #5

This saved my butt when I lost my mouse dongle and only had an Ubuntu instance available at the time. I was able to pair my mouse to the same dongle my keyboard used and have been using the software ever since without issue. Thank you!

The mouse buttons tend to go long before the keyboard, but wireless HID devices tend to be a consumable for most people that use their computer a lot.

We issue the wireless keyboards/mice kit as it is cheaper than swapping a proprietary keyboard in your laptop, and less likely to give users an RSI (really not funny if you are a Jr and have to learn this the painful way.) =3

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#16

Post by orev »

loufe wrote: post #3

I've had an MX Master mouse (the "2" for maybe 8-9 years then the "3" for 2-3 years now) and love it. Great performance, great battery life, fantastic design and feel. On Windows I definitely do not love the 150Mb program to manage it (surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech. I found Solaar a couple months ago after getting repeatedly frustrated with bluetooth connection issues. It rea…

This says it’s for Linux, and a search doesn’t find a Windows version. Are you using this on Windows?

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#17

Post by nemomarx »

Joel_Mckay wrote: post #15
brocket wrote: post #5

This saved my butt when I lost my mouse dongle and only had an Ubuntu instance available at the time. I was able to pair my mouse to the same dongle my keyboard used and have been using the software ever since without issue. Thank you!

The mouse buttons tend to go long before the keyboard, but wireless HID devices tend to be a consumable for most people that use their computer a lot. We issue the wireless keyboards/mice kit as it is cheaper than swapping a proprietary keyboard in your laptop, and less likely to give users an RSI (really not funny if you are a Jr and have to learn this the painful way.) =3

why not a corded one, if you'll always be using it with a laptop?

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#18

Post by CoastalCoder »

Since we're on the topic of Logitech keyboards, does anyone know of a wired-only keyboard that has the same feel as the "Logitech MX Keys S Wireless"?

I love this keyboard's feel, but I need to switch to wired-only for $reasons.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#19

Post by bigfishrunning »

LeoPanthera wrote: post #7
loufe wrote: post #3

I've had an MX Master mouse (the "2" for maybe 8-9 years then the "3" for 2-3 years now) and love it. Great performance, great battery life, fantastic design and feel. On Windows I definitely do not love the 150Mb program to manage it (surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech. I found Solaar a couple months ago after getting repeatedly frustrated with bluetooth connection issues. It rea…

> surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech To give Logitech some credit, there's an off switch for "diagnostic data" right there in the settings.

If they want more credit, they should make it an on switch

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#20

Post by dmm »

prmoustache wrote: post #8

Pardon my ignorance but why would you need an app to manage keyboards and mice in the first place? Aren't they supported out of the box by generic drivers?

You can attach multiple devices to a single dongle using this app.
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