KVM Switch
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If all are Windows-based systems, why not just use RDP?
Robert Bolin 2022 wrote:
If all are Windows-based systems, why not just use RDP?
Windows Home can connect to RDP, but cannot be RDP'd to. Some Linux (e.g. Debian) can RDP to other places (but Debian has a nasty habit of not connecting unless you have 'native' access to it first, which rather defeats the purpose). You can ignore the rest of this comment / response because, by drawing the diagram, I have realised that a solution to my KVM problem could be a single 4-Port HDMI KVM as I am not actually using the VGA slots as I am directly connecting the VGA to the monitor, bypassing the VGAs on the KVM. I'm looking for a KVM that supports mixed HDMI and VGA input devices (o/p not such a problem as my monitor is switchable between HDMI and VGA) as I have 3 PCs, one of which does not have HDMI. I know I can use HDMI to VGA converters and use a VGA-only KVM, but that would lead to a loss of resolution. Currently, I have 2 Two-Port KVMs (one for HDMI and one for VGA) which I have daisy-chained USB Ins to USB Outs, as per the diagram below.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_+-----+ +-----+ / \ +-----+
| | | | | Monitor | | |
| PC1 | | PC2 | | | | PC3 |
| | | | \ __________/ | |
+-----+ +-----+ HDMI . . VGA +-----+
. | . | . . . |
. | . |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ . |
. | . . . | . |
. | ......... .......... ..................... |
. |_ _ _ _ _ . . | |
. | . . | |
......... | . _ _ _ . _ _ _ | |
. | . | . | | |
. | . | . | | |
+------------------------------+ | +------------------------------+
| HDMI USB HDMI USB HDMI | | | VGA USB VGA USB VGA |
| IN IN IN IN OUT | | | IN IN IN IN OU -
Can anyone recommend a KVM switch supports 5 computers and both mac and windows via USB3?
If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.
Take a look at PI KVM PiKVM - Open and cheap DIY IP-KVM on Raspberry Pi[^]
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This is the 4 port one I bought 3 years ago: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CPLB6Y1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1[^]
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
I think I might order this for myself. How's this unit working for you, Dan? Do you find it reliable? Have you encountered any issues or is there anything you don't like about it? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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I think I might order this for myself. How's this unit working for you, Dan? Do you find it reliable? Have you encountered any issues or is there anything you don't like about it? Thanks, /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
I've had no major complaints with it; but I'm also not using it to its fullest capacity. I'm not using the audio out feature, hooking the speakers connected to 1 system to it instead and changing audio to hdmi out would help with cable management a bit but's never gotten to the top of my todo list. I'm also not running it at full resolution (1680x1050); but in that case I didn't think saving a few dollars for a lower end model was worth it. The ancient screen I'm using will get retired someday. The only annoyance I have is that I hear USB dis/connect tones from the PC with the speakers attached when I switch. That might go away if I was using the audio support, but I've never gotten around to trying.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
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I've had no major complaints with it; but I'm also not using it to its fullest capacity. I'm not using the audio out feature, hooking the speakers connected to 1 system to it instead and changing audio to hdmi out would help with cable management a bit but's never gotten to the top of my todo list. I'm also not running it at full resolution (1680x1050); but in that case I didn't think saving a few dollars for a lower end model was worth it. The ancient screen I'm using will get retired someday. The only annoyance I have is that I hear USB dis/connect tones from the PC with the speakers attached when I switch. That might go away if I was using the audio support, but I've never gotten around to trying.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
Thanks again.
Dan Neely wrote:
I'm also not running it at full resolution (1680x1050)
The product details indicate it supports a resolution up to 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz. I intend to use it with an ultra-wide (3440 x 1440) panel. Perhaps your model is an older variant that max'd out at 1680 x 1050? /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Thanks again.
Dan Neely wrote:
I'm also not running it at full resolution (1680x1050)
The product details indicate it supports a resolution up to 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz. I intend to use it with an ultra-wide (3440 x 1440) panel. Perhaps your model is an older variant that max'd out at 1680 x 1050? /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
Perhaps your model is an older variant that max'd out at 1680 x 1050?
Something like that. 2560x1600, but DL-DVI only. Theoretically over HDMI I should be able to do 1920x1200; but Windows is fanatically determined to prevent me from selecting that resolution and forces me to jump through the same set of hoops to force it after each reboot. The KVM's for secondary systems only so I just gave up.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
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Why do you need USB 3? Are you an incredibly fast typist? Paul Sanders http://www.alpinesoft.co.uk
I'm going to be connecting 1. My Windows PC which is one HDMI and one DVi 2. A Windows Laptop which has USB and one HDMI 3. A Mac which is USB only. and I have dual monitors CKL suppprt recommended this one [https://www.amazon.com/CKL-Keyboard-Peripherals-Computers-922HUA-3/dp/B08T61M7F3/ref=sr\_1\_8?crid=1PJU6AFL8SYWY&keywords=kvm%2Bswitch%2Bdual%2Bmonitor&qid=1650934091&sprefix=%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-8&th=1\](https://www.amazon.com/CKL-Keyboard-Peripherals-Computers-922HUA-3/dp/B08T61M7F3/ref=sr\_1\_8?crid=1PJU6AFL8SYWY&keywords=kvm%2Bswitch%2Bdual%2Bmonitor&qid=1650934091&sprefix=%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-8&th=1)
If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.
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I'm going to be connecting 1. My Windows PC which is one HDMI and one DVi 2. A Windows Laptop which has USB and one HDMI 3. A Mac which is USB only. and I have dual monitors CKL suppprt recommended this one [https://www.amazon.com/CKL-Keyboard-Peripherals-Computers-922HUA-3/dp/B08T61M7F3/ref=sr\_1\_8?crid=1PJU6AFL8SYWY&keywords=kvm%2Bswitch%2Bdual%2Bmonitor&qid=1650934091&sprefix=%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-8&th=1\](https://www.amazon.com/CKL-Keyboard-Peripherals-Computers-922HUA-3/dp/B08T61M7F3/ref=sr\_1\_8?crid=1PJU6AFL8SYWY&keywords=kvm%2Bswitch%2Bdual%2Bmonitor&qid=1650934091&sprefix=%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-8&th=1)
If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.
OK, I understand, but how does USB 3 come into it? Presumably, the USB ports you want to route through the KVM will be used solely for your mouse and keyboard, and they are slow devices and will work fine with any of the various USB standards that now exist. And if you want to plug the KVM into a USB 3 port on whichever machine(s) have one, because that's that's available to you, there's nothing to worry about. Those ports are backwards compatible, they won't mind a bit. So unless you know something that I don't, I would free yourself from that requirement, it will bring the cost right down. USB 3 is all about speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed, it's aimed primarily at external drives / thumb drives, and I fervently hope that you are going to plug any such devices directly into a host port.
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - sure, but what does that actually mean? Oh wait, I get it. It means it's full of different bits and you have to savour them all. And so you do.
And if you don't mind, a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk. -
OK, I understand, but how does USB 3 come into it? Presumably, the USB ports you want to route through the KVM will be used solely for your mouse and keyboard, and they are slow devices and will work fine with any of the various USB standards that now exist. And if you want to plug the KVM into a USB 3 port on whichever machine(s) have one, because that's that's available to you, there's nothing to worry about. Those ports are backwards compatible, they won't mind a bit. So unless you know something that I don't, I would free yourself from that requirement, it will bring the cost right down. USB 3 is all about speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed, it's aimed primarily at external drives / thumb drives, and I fervently hope that you are going to plug any such devices directly into a host port.
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - sure, but what does that actually mean? Oh wait, I get it. It means it's full of different bits and you have to savour them all. And so you do.
And if you don't mind, a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk.The Mac only has USB
If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.
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The Mac only has USB
If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.
Sorry, I missed that in your post. So no HDMI? What a pain, but wouldn't you solve that by inserting a USB to HDMI adapter between the Mac and the KVM? Or am I missing something? You've not told us what kind of Mac it is. And if you want to get both your monitors hooked up, then it seems to me that you're going to have to extend that principle - i.e. attach suitable converter cables to your various computers to make them all generate an HDMI signal from both video outputs - then route said signals through a (dual HDMI port) KVM. That doesn't sound all that easy, and they might not all support two monitors anyway (although maybe you have already figured that bit out), but I don't see what else is going to work. What me? What do I do? I'm still using PS/2, but only because I have no choice (there, I just blew all my street cred).
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - sure, but what does that actually mean? Oh wait, I get it. It means it's full of different bits and you have to savour them all. And so you do.
And if you don't mind, a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk. -
Sorry, I missed that in your post. So no HDMI? What a pain, but wouldn't you solve that by inserting a USB to HDMI adapter between the Mac and the KVM? Or am I missing something? You've not told us what kind of Mac it is. And if you want to get both your monitors hooked up, then it seems to me that you're going to have to extend that principle - i.e. attach suitable converter cables to your various computers to make them all generate an HDMI signal from both video outputs - then route said signals through a (dual HDMI port) KVM. That doesn't sound all that easy, and they might not all support two monitors anyway (although maybe you have already figured that bit out), but I don't see what else is going to work. What me? What do I do? I'm still using PS/2, but only because I have no choice (there, I just blew all my street cred).
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - sure, but what does that actually mean? Oh wait, I get it. It means it's full of different bits and you have to savour them all. And so you do.
And if you don't mind, a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk.Paul Sanders (the other one) wrote:
Sorry, I missed that in your post. So no HDMI? What a pain, but wouldn't you solve that by inserting a USB to HDMI adapter between the Mac and the KVM? Or am I missing something? You've not told us what kind of Mac it is.
This would be my suggestion as well. I would be surprised and impressed if the KVM was able to pull an HDMI/DP stream out of USB3 and pass it over to the HDMI to the monitor. My guess is you'll need a dongle like this to split the combined stream apart for the KVM to handle. https://www.amazon.com/Battony-Multiport-Converter-Charging-Compatible/dp/B0819KTP6M/?th=1[^]
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
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TrendNet seems to be a popular brand.
/ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Trendnet are great kit, I have one on my server stack. 8 port one, bit of an older model these days, but has not let me down yet.
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
Perhaps your model is an older variant that max'd out at 1680 x 1050?
Something like that. 2560x1600, but DL-DVI only. Theoretically over HDMI I should be able to do 1920x1200; but Windows is fanatically determined to prevent me from selecting that resolution and forces me to jump through the same set of hoops to force it after each reboot. The KVM's for secondary systems only so I just gave up.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
Thanks again for your comments, Dan. I just ordered the 4-port AV Access KVM[^]. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Paul Sanders (the other one) wrote:
Sorry, I missed that in your post. So no HDMI? What a pain, but wouldn't you solve that by inserting a USB to HDMI adapter between the Mac and the KVM? Or am I missing something? You've not told us what kind of Mac it is.
This would be my suggestion as well. I would be surprised and impressed if the KVM was able to pull an HDMI/DP stream out of USB3 and pass it over to the HDMI to the monitor. My guess is you'll need a dongle like this to split the combined stream apart for the KVM to handle. https://www.amazon.com/Battony-Multiport-Converter-Charging-Compatible/dp/B0819KTP6M/?th=1[^]
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
Yeah, I'd be surprised (and impressed) too. Observation: I've been far too slow noticing this, but this is a classic [XY problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY\_problem) - i.e. proposing a solution instead of providing a clear description of what the actual goal is. And didn't we all fall for it? Just goes to show how much trouble doing that can cause Kevin, so please be aware of that for next time.
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - which I take to mean that it's full of different bits and you should try to savour them all. I think that's pretty neat, I like that analogy. And now a message from our sponsor. If you don't mind, here's a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk. Thanks.
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Paul Sanders (the other one) wrote:
Sorry, I missed that in your post. So no HDMI? What a pain, but wouldn't you solve that by inserting a USB to HDMI adapter between the Mac and the KVM? Or am I missing something? You've not told us what kind of Mac it is.
This would be my suggestion as well. I would be surprised and impressed if the KVM was able to pull an HDMI/DP stream out of USB3 and pass it over to the HDMI to the monitor. My guess is you'll need a dongle like this to split the combined stream apart for the KVM to handle. https://www.amazon.com/Battony-Multiport-Converter-Charging-Compatible/dp/B0819KTP6M/?th=1[^]
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
Yeah, I'd be surprised (and impressed) too. Observation: I've been far too slow catching on here, but this is a classic [XY problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY\_problem) - i.e. proposing a solution instead of providing a clear description of what the actual goal is. And didn't we all fall for it? Just goes to show how much trouble doing that can cause Kevin, so please be aware of that for next time, thanks.
Paul Sanders. "Life is a minestrone" - which I take to mean that it's full of different bits and you should try to savour them all. I think that's pretty neat, I like that analogy. And if you don't mind, here's a quick plug for my little one-man business. Follow the link if you're interested in ripping your vinyl collection: www.alpinesoft.co.uk. Thanks.