KVM switches
-
I'm a little confused by KVM switches... I've got two machines, one monitor, keyboard and mouse, so I'd like to get a KVM switch so I don't need to keep unplugging the items to use the other machine. Looking at some of the switches on dabs[^], their specs state which OS the require. So does this mean that these switches include drivers? I would have thought that this would be software free as all the switch is doing is routing the I/O signals to/from the appropriate machine. Is that wrong then? I ask as one of the machines is running XP, the other Linux - so if there is a software element involved I'll need to get one that supports both OS's. Could anyone recommend one, or are there ones I should avoid? The two that seem best for me so far are this one[^] and this one[^]. The first of those includes a picture in the description showing the cables - there only appears to be one USB connector to go to the machine for both keyboard and mouse - is that correct? Is this one of the reasons it needs drivers?
- Dy
-
I'm a little confused by KVM switches... I've got two machines, one monitor, keyboard and mouse, so I'd like to get a KVM switch so I don't need to keep unplugging the items to use the other machine. Looking at some of the switches on dabs[^], their specs state which OS the require. So does this mean that these switches include drivers? I would have thought that this would be software free as all the switch is doing is routing the I/O signals to/from the appropriate machine. Is that wrong then? I ask as one of the machines is running XP, the other Linux - so if there is a software element involved I'll need to get one that supports both OS's. Could anyone recommend one, or are there ones I should avoid? The two that seem best for me so far are this one[^] and this one[^]. The first of those includes a picture in the description showing the cables - there only appears to be one USB connector to go to the machine for both keyboard and mouse - is that correct? Is this one of the reasons it needs drivers?
- Dy
We've got a big Belkin 8-port KVM in our server lab that supports USB - some of the systems connected to it don't have PS/2 inputs. For those systems, it uses only the USB Human Interface Device: it outputs keyboard commands on one subfunction (logical device) and mouse commands on another. For information on using USB HID devices with Linux see here[^].
DoEvents: Generating unexpected recursion since 1991
-
I'm a little confused by KVM switches... I've got two machines, one monitor, keyboard and mouse, so I'd like to get a KVM switch so I don't need to keep unplugging the items to use the other machine. Looking at some of the switches on dabs[^], their specs state which OS the require. So does this mean that these switches include drivers? I would have thought that this would be software free as all the switch is doing is routing the I/O signals to/from the appropriate machine. Is that wrong then? I ask as one of the machines is running XP, the other Linux - so if there is a software element involved I'll need to get one that supports both OS's. Could anyone recommend one, or are there ones I should avoid? The two that seem best for me so far are this one[^] and this one[^]. The first of those includes a picture in the description showing the cables - there only appears to be one USB connector to go to the machine for both keyboard and mouse - is that correct? Is this one of the reasons it needs drivers?
- Dy
If it only uses a single USB connection for the K/V/M (and maybe audio) parts, then a driver is likely required to pass the video and audio over the USB connection. I have used an "old style" KVM by OmniView (which I think now has a new brand name) that uses three separate cables for K/V/M for years. And I love it to death - no easier way to switch between the personal (Win32), development (Win32), game (Win32) and server (Linux) boxes. If you can handle the additional wiring, I would suggest getting an old style one as well. Makes it real easy to do things like connect up a new system if you need to do a install/rebuild (where the driver is not yet installed). Also, I think it is easier/cheaper(?) to do things like extend standard K/V/M signals over Cat5 cable than it is to do the same with USB. You might be able to go farther without an extender with standard K/V/M cables than USB anyway. Peace!
-=- James
Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * *If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
See DeleteFXPFiles -
I'm a little confused by KVM switches... I've got two machines, one monitor, keyboard and mouse, so I'd like to get a KVM switch so I don't need to keep unplugging the items to use the other machine. Looking at some of the switches on dabs[^], their specs state which OS the require. So does this mean that these switches include drivers? I would have thought that this would be software free as all the switch is doing is routing the I/O signals to/from the appropriate machine. Is that wrong then? I ask as one of the machines is running XP, the other Linux - so if there is a software element involved I'll need to get one that supports both OS's. Could anyone recommend one, or are there ones I should avoid? The two that seem best for me so far are this one[^] and this one[^]. The first of those includes a picture in the description showing the cables - there only appears to be one USB connector to go to the machine for both keyboard and mouse - is that correct? Is this one of the reasons it needs drivers?
- Dy
Seems a bit complex these days. "hot key switching" and "audio through" etc. Do you need any of that? We have a KVM that is just a metal box with a dial on the front and plugs out the back. It just swaps the physical connection and the boxes it is connected to are none the wiser. Nothing fancy, works with every OS I've thrown at it (Windows, Mac OS X, Ubuntu Linux, Solaris, RedHat Linux.) Then again we have another KVM in the server room which from what I can tell includes a kitchen sink. It is always causing problems. Keep it simple I say.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
-
Seems a bit complex these days. "hot key switching" and "audio through" etc. Do you need any of that? We have a KVM that is just a metal box with a dial on the front and plugs out the back. It just swaps the physical connection and the boxes it is connected to are none the wiser. Nothing fancy, works with every OS I've thrown at it (Windows, Mac OS X, Ubuntu Linux, Solaris, RedHat Linux.) Then again we have another KVM in the server room which from what I can tell includes a kitchen sink. It is always causing problems. Keep it simple I say.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
Most older KVMs did this, but that was when the mouse was serial. IME, bus mice (remember them?) and PS/2-style mice do not support hot plugging very well. I remember doing it less than a year ago and I had to reboot to get the mouse back. :( For keyboards, video and audio connections, a purely physical/electrical (mechanical switch) works great. It might be a different story for mice, though. Edit: Oh yeah, and having a KVM that does mouse emulation is good for systems that are sensitive to mouse disconnections - it allows non-active-on-the-KVM systems to reboot without any keyboard/mouse issues. Peace!
-=- James
Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * *If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
See DeleteFXPFiles -
Most older KVMs did this, but that was when the mouse was serial. IME, bus mice (remember them?) and PS/2-style mice do not support hot plugging very well. I remember doing it less than a year ago and I had to reboot to get the mouse back. :( For keyboards, video and audio connections, a purely physical/electrical (mechanical switch) works great. It might be a different story for mice, though. Edit: Oh yeah, and having a KVM that does mouse emulation is good for systems that are sensitive to mouse disconnections - it allows non-active-on-the-KVM systems to reboot without any keyboard/mouse issues. Peace!
-=- James
Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * *If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
See DeleteFXPFilesWell, I've used this KVM for about 8 years now. Used it with serial, PS/2 and USB mice and keyboards. The only time it is a problem is when switching during a reboot. Sometimes you have to switch to another system and back again for it to register but that is pretty quick. I think some bloke with a sheet bender and a soldering iron made it, it doesn't even have a brand on it.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
-
Well, I've used this KVM for about 8 years now. Used it with serial, PS/2 and USB mice and keyboards. The only time it is a problem is when switching during a reboot. Sometimes you have to switch to another system and back again for it to register but that is pretty quick. I think some bloke with a sheet bender and a soldering iron made it, it doesn't even have a brand on it.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
Cool - you have had much better experience with them than me (well, at least since bus/PS2-style mice came out...) Peace!
-=- James
Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * *If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
See DeleteFXPFiles -
I'm a little confused by KVM switches... I've got two machines, one monitor, keyboard and mouse, so I'd like to get a KVM switch so I don't need to keep unplugging the items to use the other machine. Looking at some of the switches on dabs[^], their specs state which OS the require. So does this mean that these switches include drivers? I would have thought that this would be software free as all the switch is doing is routing the I/O signals to/from the appropriate machine. Is that wrong then? I ask as one of the machines is running XP, the other Linux - so if there is a software element involved I'll need to get one that supports both OS's. Could anyone recommend one, or are there ones I should avoid? The two that seem best for me so far are this one[^] and this one[^]. The first of those includes a picture in the description showing the cables - there only appears to be one USB connector to go to the machine for both keyboard and mouse - is that correct? Is this one of the reasons it needs drivers?
- Dy
I am using the IOGEAR gcs62 two port kvm with 2 Precision 650's(old computers). It is limited in that it only supports the ps2 mouse. Both machines have thier keyboards/ps2 ports live even if switch is not swithed to other computer on bootup. It has a rotation feature so you can see both computers at 8 second increments. I am happy with it and best of all it's about $20 US. Available at cyberguys and newegg. No drivers needed(windows platform).
MrPlankton