Post by thread:[OT] USB KM switch

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Martin wrote: > Can anyone recommend a USB KVM switch, minus the "V" ? > must be USB, I'm going between a Mac (USB only) and PC. Like: www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-2x1-USB-Peripheral-Switch/dp/B000KRN1Q8 coupled with a hub? Or do you need PS/2 *and* USB? You could probably make a switch yourself without *too* much trouble with wafer switches. - -- Brendan Gillatt | GPG Key: 0xBF6A0D94 brendan {a} brendangillatt (dot) co (dot) uk http://www.brendangillatt.co.uk -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) iD8DBQFHvyKnuv4tpb9qDZQRAqShAJ0dlKRSoMqFzaNS1YnFzOHuJuUIkgCfTjAI 6R24uIAQF8DLqwaaR+Zqy6Q= =sxeg -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

On Fri, 2008-02-22 at 19:29 +0000, Brendan Gillatt wrote: > You could probably make a switch yourself without *too* much trouble with > wafer switches. Not really. Remember, the switching function of a KVM is actually more complicated then just switching. Modern KVMs "trick" the connected PCs into thinking the keyboard and monitor are always connected, even when that machine isn't the one current selected. This allows a PC to boot normally, among other things (i.e. maintaining the state of caps lock). TTYL

> Not really. Remember, the switching function of a KVM is actually more > complicated then just switching. > > Modern KVMs "trick" the connected PCs into thinking the keyboard and > monitor are always connected, even when that machine isn't the one > current selected. > Thats not so important with USB though, you can force your monitors (many KVM switches screw up monitor identification anyway in my experiance) resoloution to be right on all of the machines and let usb's hotplugging support deal with the switching of the keyboard and mouse.

On Fri, 2008-02-22 at 21:43 +0000, peter green wrote: > > Not really. Remember, the switching function of a KVM is actually more > > complicated then just switching. > > > > Modern KVMs "trick" the connected PCs into thinking the keyboard and > > monitor are always connected, even when that machine isn't the one > > current selected. > > > Thats not so important with USB though, you can force your monitors > (many KVM switches screw up monitor identification anyway in my > experiance) resoloution to be right on all of the machines and let usb's > hotplugging support deal with the switching of the keyboard and mouse. I disagree. A PC trying to boot without a keyboard or mouse attached is most certainly problematic. This isn't restricted to just the BIOS, even the OS can get "angry" if things aren't attached. Also, without keyboard emulation you loose state information, having to hit numlock every time you switch views can get very tiring... TTYL

I guess you have 2 monitors since you don't need the V. Maybe synergy will help. http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ John La Rooy On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 4:58 AM, Martin <spam_OUTmartinTakeThisOuTnnytech.net> wrote: > Can anyone recommend a USB KVM switch, minus the "V" ? > must be USB, I'm going between a Mac (USB only) and PC. > > Thanks > Martin > > -

John La Rooy wrote: > I guess you have 2 monitors since you don't need the V. > Maybe synergy will help. > http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ Can vouch for Synergy (only used on Windows though). If you want to spend a few bucks and have a spare Windows license around, MaxiVista is also nice <http://www.maxivista.com/multi_monitor.htm>. Gerhard