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Author Topic: What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?  (Read 10824 times)

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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 03:58:37 »
I'm thinking of trying to run a setup of 3 boxes and 3 monitors and share one keyboard and mouse between them. I realized the monitors don't take up usable space, it's the mice and keyboards all over the desk that make it intolerable. Don't ask me how I know...

Is there something designed for this or do I just have to buy a KVM and not use the video ports? I read the reviews at newegg (can't buy there but it's good for reviews) and every kvm reviewed seems to have some guys who say it's great and others who say it sucks. I need to have something that really works. I would actually prefer a mechanical switch but I haven't found one.

Ideally it would have both USB and PS/2 connectors but for now I can live with all USB since I have the converters working fine on my boxes.

Any ideas guys?

Thank you.
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Offline Rajagra

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:07:16 »
I use a Belkin F1U400 switch. Controls 4 USB devices to 4 PCs. One problem with it is it's slower than I'd like - you make a selection then you have to wait a couple of seconds before it changes.

You can get mechanical USB switches, but they are mostly for a single device to many PCs or vice versa. You could get around that by going PC » USB switch » cheap USB hub » keyboard and mouse.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:12:52 »
Thanks, I'll look at USB switches.
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Offline iMav

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:15:09 »
Depends on what keyboard you want to use.  Personally, I've always good luck with IOGear KVM's, but mine are problemstic with my HHKB.

I'd also suggest Synergy...that would be perfect for your setup.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:29:38 »
What's Synergy?

The problem is whatever I buy is going to be mail order and it's going to be hard to return. If I shell out for something and it doesn't work, I'm screwed.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:42:34 »
Oh that looks interesting. Do you use it, iMav?
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Offline hyperlinked

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 06:18:16 »
Quote from: ironcoder;140849
The problem is whatever I buy is going to be mail order and it's going to be hard to return.


So...I think this would be an opportune time to ask what your reference to living in a bomb shelter means.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 06:24:23 »
"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is not a working number..."
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Offline iMav

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 06:46:56 »
Quote from: ironcoder;140854
Oh that looks interesting. Do you use it, iMav?


Yes, I use Synergy and it works quite well.  Like I said, perfect for your situation...and it's free.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 07:11:15 »
Hopefully it will work. I have 2 Linux boxes and a Solaris box in my office I want to use this with. It's going to be a little while until I get the DVI cables but I'll try it unless I decide to use the USB switch deal which also sounds like a good solution. What are you using it for, iMav?

Thanks guys!
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Offline timw4mail

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 07:23:04 »
I use two KVMs headless to switch between computers (1 USB and 1 PS/2). Synergy wouldn't work for me because games do funny things when you run Synergy.
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Offline didjamatic

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 07:24:36 »
Q: What do you call a KVM that only does Keyboard and Mouse?
A: A KM.
(rimshot)

If synergy doesn't do it for you, just use a KVM but don't plug in the video connections, have each monitor directly connected to the PC.  Then use KVM for input device switching only.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 07:40:36 »
Yeah I thought about that but it's hard to know which ones just work. So many posts are saying the keyboard or the mouse wasn't recognized blah blah blah, I think a USB switch with a hub is really the surest deal. Now to find a good mechanical USB switch. A decent KVM costs a lot more and isn't guaranteed to work. Bummer there are still problems with this technology after this much time.
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Offline Rajagra

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 08:50:52 »
The only problems I've had with PS/2 KVMs are mice that need special drivers - they work properly on boot, you switch to another PC and the driver thinks the mouse has gone. When you switch back to that PC the driver doesn't pick up on the fact that the mouse is back, so you lose any special functions (scroll wheel, extra buttons, etc.) But they still work as basic mice.

PS/2 KVMs are cheap e.g. on ebay, so it hardly matters that you are wasting the monitor connection.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 10:23:39 »
I don't want to play around looking for special drivers. Too many OS.
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Offline gohu

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 10 December 2009, 16:21:47 »
Quote from: timw4mail;140877
I use two KVMs headless to switch between computers (1 USB and 1 PS/2). Synergy wouldn't work for me because games do funny things when you run Synergy.


I use synergy and I game with no problem. You just have to press the Scroll Lock key beforehand to prevent your mouse (and keyboard) from switching screens.

The only disadvantage of synergy over KVM is that you need a master PC which will have to stay on. With a KVM, you can use whichever computer you want to, regardless of whether the other computers are on or off.

With Synergy, you have the huge advantage of the shared clipboard, it is very useful IMO.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 13 December 2009, 14:30:29 »
I imagine it only works in X which may not be ideal for me. I'll have to check. I will probably use the overkill hardware solution of buying a halfway decent USB KVM and just not using the video ports.
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Offline timw4mail

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 07:09:23 »
Quote from: ironcoder;142055
I imagine it only works in X which may not be ideal for me. I'll have to check. I will probably use the overkill hardware solution of buying a halfway decent USB KVM and just not using the video ports.

No, it works with Windows, Linux, and OS X. Other unices I'm not sure of.
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Clicky iOne Scorpius M10, OCN-branded Ducky DK-9008-C, Blackmore Nocturna, Redragon Kumara K552-1, Qtronix Scorpius Keypad, Chicony KB-5181(Monterey)
Tactile Apple AEKII (Cream damped ALPS), Filco FKBN91M/JB (Japanese Tenkeyless), Cherry G84-5200, Cherry G84-4100LPAUS, Datalux Spacesaver(Cherry ML), Redragon Devarajas K556 RGB, Newmen GM711, Poker II (Cherry MX Clear), Logitech G910 Orion Spark, Logitech K840
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 15:38:29 »
I meant it probably doesn't work on NIX consoles, you have to be running X on NIX for it to work. I can't see how it could work with consoles, but maybe I'm wrong. From the page when I checked before it should run on any NIX.
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Offline iMav

  • geekhack creator/founder
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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 14 December 2009, 22:03:23 »
Quote from: ironcoder;142301
I meant it probably doesn't work on NIX consoles, you have to be running X on NIX for it to work. I can't see how it could work with consoles, but maybe I'm wrong. From the page when I checked before it should run on any NIX.


If you are simply running from the console, why not simply go headless?  Ssh in when you need to.
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Offline ironcoder

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What do you call a KVM that only switches keyboard and mouse?
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 15 December 2009, 14:56:07 »
That is an option, but I have 3 nice screens available for this so I should put them to good use.
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