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super key (windows key) gets stuck in "pressed" on client #207
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I also have this issue with linux server -> linux client (both Arch). It's oftentimes a stuck super/meta key, but occasionally other modifiers (shift or ctrl). If I experience the problem (let's say its shift for this example), if I restart the barrier server, switch back to the client machine, things are normal. If I immediately switch back to the host, then back to the client, the shift key is stuck again. The modifier stays "stuck" on the client machine's physical keyboard as well. The typical way to resolve this is for me to just reboot the client machine. Any advice on how I could help debug this would be appreciated as it's driving me absolutely insane. I am able to SSH into the client machine. I've tried This problem exists using Barrier 2.2.0 as well as Synergy 1.10.1. |
I'm getting this on practically a daily basis as well. I'm running Arch Linux (recently updated) on both client and server. The problem primarily appears to affect the client, and like Josh, continues even after killing barrier on the client machine. To fix the problem, I have to log out (to my TTY), log back in and restart X. |
I think this is a problem for Windows clients as well and that several different modifier keys can become stuck. If anyone can reproduce it reliably, that would be helpful. |
For me, it tends to be the Alt key. I have my environment configured so that Alt is used to move and resize windows (Alt+drag). It's possible it's getting triggered when I alt-drag a window to the edge of the screen (the edge that would normally allow my mouse to move back to the host computer). I'll keep an eye out when I'm moving windows around and see if that has something to do with it (modifier being held when the mouse moves between devices). |
I have a meta key stuck using ubuntu server and windows client. At first meta key only works for ubuntu and then doesn' t work for either. |
Is there any debugging we can do or logs we can provide that might help get this problem fixed? At this point, I'm contemplating switching to something else because having to close my entire X-window session just to get my keyboard working on a daily basis is not sustainable and the problem seems to be getting worse. If there is something I can provide, this problem now reliably happens once a day, so I could provide data very quickly and repeatedly. |
@DarwinSurvivor - The only thing that I've found to "reset" this (without leaving X) is the following ... and it's not ideal (at all):
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I've now had this affect non-modifiers somehow. For example, I use cVim, so "x" is equivalent to "Ctrl+F4" and closes the current tab. I've had the x key get stuck, which means when I switch to a chrome window, it rapid-filer closes all my tabs until the entire window disappears. |
My super-key gets stuck like this sometimes. Other keys like x can also get stuck, as DarwinSurvivor mentioned, though those keys always right themselves after a second or two on my machine. I assumed that was caused by (wi-fi) lag since my cursor freezes as well while the client mashes out 'xxxxxxxxx' then stops. The super-key issue seems to be nearly permanent though, outside of restarting X / rebooting. Server: Windows 10 |
I get the same with the ALT key. The behavior becomes inverse. When I press the Alt key on the host then the client behaves like it is not pressed. It happened twice already. I'm not sure what fixed it the first time. Server: Windows 10 *update: |
I experience the same (Super key stuck, sometimes the Ctrl key) with a MacOS host and Linux Mint client. This happens intermittently without known cause, though I observe that it often happens when using Skype or Google Hangout with a head set. To resolve sometimes restarting X helps, sometimes a full shutdown/reboot is needed. setxkbmap / xdotool does not seem to reset. Server: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 What in Barrier would cause meta keys to be "pressed" in the client? There must be some event that causes a change of state and then keeps it from getting reset, I presume perhaps naively. |
Same problem with Shift key not released from client. I would rename the title as it seems to affect more modifiers than just super key. Operating Systems Barrier Version |
Found similar issue in Synergy symless#6459 |
Small update to make it clear, the unreleased key happens every time I press the shift key so it is unlikely caused by a network issue. |
Server: barrier 2.3.2-snapshot-210c2b70 (Windows 10 1909) Same, CTRL client stuck on client, pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL while on client invokes Server (Windows)(Lock|SwitchUser|Sign Out|Task Manager) menu, then ESC to go back to desktop un-stucks CTRL on client for a few seconds (20 seconds at most), then it gets stuck again on it's own. Logs at Debug2 level on both client and server show nothing useful, just the "entering/leaving screen" messages. Bug makes client pretty unusable, as it interprets simple keystrokes as commands due to ctrl involvement. |
I'm experiencing this as well, with both ctrl and alt keys on client getting stuck. |
Debian 2.1.2+dfsg-1 |
Happens regularly between my two Linux Mint (20 and 19) computers with Barrier 2.3.3. Turns out the right shift key gets stuck, labelled SHIFT_R. Stuck keys can be detected this way : |
In addition to my earlier comment, this happens frequently in connection with either of the following activities, on the Linux client:
Once the key got stock (for me it is the Ctrl key), other symptoms start to appear seconds to minutes later like not being able to type random characters in a new terminal window, no caps or no keyboard input at all. Typically the situation gets worse and the only solution is to reboot. Note it also happens sometimes without any of these activities, but more rarely so. Client: Server: Network: Ethernet, 1GB, same subnet, sometimes wifi (barrier und client are on the same router, however server is connected via ethernet, client via wifi) Workaround I may have found a work around in relation to suspend mode (which disrupts the network connection), still testing as of writing this. The investigation shows that the stuck key starts to happen right after the network disruption has been fixed and barrier reconnects automatically. When barrier is stopped before the network disruption (e.g. on suspend) and is restarted only after the network is ok again, there does not seem to be a stuck key. Perhaps this hints to an issue in barriers network / reconnection handling? For the work around on suspend, see https://gist.github.com/miraculixx/4cfb26cad33943f90742ad98b4ce9f87 Updated 26 Aug 2020 - added wifi connection as a contributor to frequency |
Running into this problem today, I think I can reproduce it fairly regularly. Trying to narrow down exact steps. What I have so far is this:
I found that, at least at one point, I had multiple barrier processes running (not barrierc, but barrier), on the Linux client. I'm going to restart everything fresh and see if I can narrow down a set of steps that reproduces the problem cleanly. |
OK, I did some more testing that reliably reproduces the problem:
If you read through this carefully, you will find I was able to recover one time, but a second time, it did not recover. The odd thing is that it's the ALT key that seems to trigger it, even though, in this attempt, the CTRL and SHIFT keys were the ones that got stuck. I also found that using
Thank you @joshskidmore! Also note that this time, there was never a duplicate barrier process detected on the Linux client. |
Another data-point: using SSH to login to the linux machine and start barrier, the problem does not happen. Hmm, and another data-point: using SSH to login to the linux machine and start barrier, WHILE holding down CTRL-ALT-SHIFT on the secondary usb keyboard (directly connected to the linux machine), DOES reproduce the problem. |
I can now reliably reproduce the problem:
Only rebooting solves the problem. Note: this does not happen when barrier is not running. I conclude that it is not a Linux/hardware issue. Client: Server: Updated: Workaround I may have found a work around in relation to suspend mode (which disrupts the network connection), still testing as of writing this. The investigation shows that the stuck key starts to happen right after the network disruption has been fixed and barrier reconnects automatically. When barrier is stopped before the network disruption (e.g. on suspend) and is restarted only after the network is ok again, there does not seem to be a stuck key. Perhaps this hints to an issue in barriers network / reconnection handling? For the work around on suspend, see https://gist.github.com/miraculixx/4cfb26cad33943f90742ad98b4ce9f87 |
When it happened to me, I wasn't plugging or unplugging anything. Both laptops stayed on WiFi throughout (unless there were some silent disconnections and reconnections that I'm not aware of - but I have no reason to suspect any silent disconnections. |
I have the same problem as you that makes barrier unusable ... :'( |
I ran into this problem too; it definitely happened with Alt, Shift, and Control, probably Super, and I'm pretty sure even Enter at least once. My Barrier server is running on Debian, Barrier version 2.2.0, and the client in question is Pop! OS, with Barrier version 2.3.3. Interestingly, I also have another Debian client (different version of Debian from the server, not sure which version of Barrier), but I haven't had the problem there. I also haven't noticed the problem on my Windows client (Barrier version 2.3.3-release-3395cca9). All four devices are connected via. Ethernet to the same router, and I wasn't doing anything with external keyboards, so I don't think either of those factors apply to me. I was sometimes able to fix the issue by pressing the stuck keys again, but I've had varying success with that, and also it can be hard to tell which key is stuck. The script provided by @joshskidmore fixes the issue (thanks!) and unsticks any keys, at least until the next time it happens. I usually keep SSH (+ Mosh) sessions open between my devices anyway, so I'll be keeping that script handy. (And it does have to be SSH, because sometimes the stuck keys will mean I'm unable to trigger the script directly on the client.) |
I'm also seeing this issue which seriously has had me scratching my head and wondering WTF is going on. I am currently running barrier on fedora and RHEL8 : $ rpm -qa |grep barrier ; ssh rhlaptop rpm -qa |grep barrier Ubuntu and Regolith were also previously in the mix as well as Synergy 1.14 - Anyway, My problem normally manifests itself when I am clicking in a web browser on a client. sometimes I can tap on the various keys, ctrl, alt, meta, etc and it will "unstick" but other times I'm not using the GUI "barrer" - calling barrierc / barriers directly from my i3 start up scripts. I can enable debug logging and things if needed. |
symless#4493 |
I get this when using my Windows host and Linux client as well. I use a G-key macro to switch computers, "Alt+Control+Shift+{" and "Alt+Control+Shift+}" for switch to main and switch to client, respectively. I use the RIGHT modifier keys for my macros. Never gets stuck coming back to windows, but often gets stuck on client. For myself, if I press and release the RIGHT control/alt/shift keys (whichever I see is stuck) then I can continue along fine, it's just more of an annoyance for me. |
Same problem, two Arch Linuxes with headless barrier. Always the windows key. xdotool works, thanks for that! Running xmodmap over ssh when the keys were stuck I got these messages, last two times it has been the same combination of keys. I'm wondering if I could detect the one of the keys being stuck for a while and run that xdotool command automatically.
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Operating Systems
Arch Linux
Barrier Version
2.1.0
Steps to reproduce bug
Other info
This is 2 fresh barrier installs on 2 fresh arch linux installs. Both are using awesome windows manager which uses the super key heavily. It works for a few seconds, but then gets stuck in down position, even if you do not do anything. rebooting is the only way to make it stop, even killing the barrier client does not make the keypress stop. Keypress never starts or gets stuck if barrier is never loaded.
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