KVM switches

mick70 · 06-06-2005, 21:47

I need to connect a Win 98 and Xp machine to use one monitor, keyboard and mouse. Any of you techies got any advice/recommendations before I take the plunge. Thanks in advance.

ZrByte · 06-06-2005, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick70

I need to connect a Win 98 and Xp machine to use one monitor, keyboard and mouse. Any of you techies got any advice/recommendations before I take the plunge. Thanks in advance.

Use one of the fully integrated models, they come with all the cables you need, they dont need any external power and are a damn site cheaper in most cases.

Aragorn · 06-06-2005, 22:02

I have a Linksys ProConnect KVM (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?LIN-KVM2) works a treat with my XP & 98SE systems. As ZrByte says, no power or extra cables needed!

ZrByte · 06-06-2005, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I have a Linksys ProConnect KVM (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?LIN-KVM2) works a treat with my XP & 98SE systems. As ZrByte says, no power or extra cables needed!

Exactly like the belkin one I used to have

Gareth · 06-06-2005, 22:43

We use Belkin ones at my current employer - work fine

06-06-2005, 22:44

We use Adderview - try a Google.

Tricky · 06-06-2005, 22:50

I use a Vista by Rose Electronics (4 port) and it works fine

SMHarman · 07-06-2005, 00:11

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...prid=99&scid=0 on mine, was a W98 / WXP, now S2k / WXP, just press scroll lock twice and you switch machines.

Does requires PS2 connections on keyboard and mouse though, so I begged on here for a replacement USB to PS2 wiget and solved that problem.

ZrByte · 07-06-2005, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...prid=99&scid=0 on mine, was a W98 / WXP, now S2k / WXP, just press scroll lock twice and you switch machines.

Does requires PS2 connections on keyboard and mouse though, so I begged on here for a replacement USB to PS2 wiget and solved that problem.

Exactly like the belkin one, I only found one machine this wouldnt work with. It would switch to this machine but wouldnt switch back again. Though one machien out of over 20 tested isnt bad

especially since this particular machine had been known to be flaky.

greencreeper · 07-06-2005, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Does requires PS2 connections on keyboard and mouse though, so I begged on here for a replacement USB to PS2 wiget and solved that problem.

I'd be a tad careful with PS/2 to USB convertors - some KVMs don't like them. Also, the KVMs I've encountered all had problems with the stiffness of the cables - would dislodge the mouse/keyboard connectors at the slightest movement.

mick70 · 07-06-2005, 23:35

Thanks for all the help, ordered the linksys one.

SMHarman · 08-06-2005, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

I'd be a tad careful with PS/2 to USB convertors - some KVMs don't like them. Also, the KVMs I've encountered all had problems with the stiffness of the cables - would dislodge the mouse/keyboard connectors at the slightest movement.

My MS Optical mouse came with a USB on the end and a green thingy that you plugged into it to turn it into a PS2. I lost the PS2 thingy. It works great, just it is all a bit snug.

greencreeper · 08-06-2005, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

My MS Optical mouse came with a USB on the end and a green thingy that you plugged into it to turn it into a PS2. I lost the PS2 thingy. It works great, just it is all a bit snug.

Yeah - I use the green PS/2 convertor on my PC. Bit of pain when it comes to safe mode - Windows 98 doesn't detect the mouse. Bit of a nightmare when dealing with a newbie over the phone

I once had a row with a customer over USB KVMs - he wouldn't accept that his convertor just wouldn't work. I explained that he could just use the KVM for K and V and have separate mice. He wanted a USB KVM. I explained that I'd never heard of one. After about half an hour of debating it, he accepted that the mouse would have to be PS/2 or else use separate mice.

Lord Nikon · 08-06-2005, 01:15

There ARE USB Switching KVMs but they are expensive (Around the ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£140 mark)

greencreeper · 08-06-2005, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

There ARE USB Switching KVMs but they are expensive (Around the ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£140 mark)

I thought there would be - made sense - but I wasn't going to tell him that

We (my company) don't supply them and wouldn't support one.