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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: chel- on Tue, 17 April 2012, 15:22:27

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: chel- on Tue, 17 April 2012, 15:22:27

I need some help finding a kvm or other solution for my multi-pc setup. Right now I have 3 computers, one with two displays and the other two connected via some cheap kvm sharing one display,kb and mouse. Having to constantly switch devices is a pain so Im wondering if there is some way I can use one keyboard and mouse while keeping my current monitor setup. The two pcs sharing devices currently are on the same network while the third isnt... so something like synergy isnt an option.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: alaricljs on Tue, 17 April 2012, 15:23:26

Synergy (http://synergy-foss.org/), or maybe some wonky VNC setup?

And as for the different network deal, I'm pretty sure you can tunnel synergy over ssh.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: Djuzuh on Tue, 17 April 2012, 15:25:11

you can create a virtual network and use synergy on it if you are motivated.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: Reptile on Tue, 17 April 2012, 15:53:16

Pretty sure all software related KVM's need to be on the same network. What OS do they all have?

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: mkawa on Tue, 17 April 2012, 23:01:50

synergy et al work over IP, so they don't need to be on the same network. however, some of them use bonjour like auto-discovery mechanisms that have to be tunneled between networks.

my view of KVMs is that they're antiquities that predate USB and DVI. you should be able to find a really cheap dumb USB switch (in fact i think i have one lying around that i should probably give away), and a dumb dvi switch shouldn't be that hard to find on monoprice either. i'm not entirely sure if someone builds one box that does both that's an appropriate price (i would say 20$ is the magic number).

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: alaricljs on Wed, 18 April 2012, 00:31:19

The dumb USB switch I have explicitly ****s itself if you try to use it w/ KB+mouse.  Nice friggin design.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: TheProfosist on Wed, 18 April 2012, 00:41:10

I have found both good usb switches and good kvm switches might look into one again if the need arrises

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: zeDoktor on Thu, 26 April 2012, 11:12:41

mouse without borders works great if they're all windows machines

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: mushupork on Thu, 26 April 2012, 11:16:28

I think I am missing part of the problem ... could you not use one 4 port KVM for all 3 PCs?  As for multi-monitor PC, multi-monitor KVMs are more expensive but since you need that for only one PC, just connect one monitor to one video port on that PC "permanently" and use the KVM to switch the monitor (with keyboard and mouse) that all PCs will share.

I am currently using an IOgear GCS1764 (http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS1764/) but it has shared USB ports so I bought a USB Video card (http://www.amazon.com/HIS-Multi-View-DVI-Adapter-HMV2-MAC-PC/dp/B003CYKCH2) and now all machines have dual monitors.  The switching sometimes takes a sec to catch up but I don't flip flop ports on the KVM too often so it is acceptable to me.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: suprsmo on Thu, 03 May 2012, 00:20:41

great app called Synergy that i used to use at work.

http://synergy-foss.org/

works between multiple pcs and cross platforms too!

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: Nighted on Thu, 03 May 2012, 00:27:55

ShareMouse is great. Windows and Mac only so far.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: Waterdr1nker on Sun, 10 June 2012, 19:47:47

I switch off between Synergy and a hardware USB switch that I got from Monoprice. The USB switch only has 2 ins and outs though, so I'm not sure how that'd work out for you.

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: Internetlad on Mon, 11 June 2012, 18:05:29

why don't you just run virtual machines on your main for the second two?

Title: Need a KVM or something
Post by: xcrx on Wed, 13 June 2012, 05:32:07

I wanted to post it again, like mushupork said is there any reason a hardware solution isn't the solution? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817183303