kvm switch

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by grim, Nov 3, 2007.

  1. grim

    grim Gigabyte Poster

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    usb keyboards and mice are PnP and universal on any o/s, so why shouldn't the kvm switch because all it's doing is switching between the two ?

    grim
     
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  2. ffreeloader

    ffreeloader Terabyte Poster

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    Just look for kvm's that are OS independent, that work on the hardware level not the software level. If they don't advertise being OS agnostic don't even think about buying them.

    This replaces the unit I bought several years ago, and will support Sun, Mac, Windows, and Linux. It even supports the extra keys Sun uses on their keyboards. I've never had a problem switching between OS's, had any waits for anything to work, nothing that I would even consider to be close to a failure of any kind. It has always "just worked" and I have hooked a lot of different systems into it. It's probably seen at least 40 different makes and models of hardware, and a half-dozen different Linux distros as well as all MS OS's other than Vista. It has been flawless with all of them.

    I can't say that for the KVM's my boss has. His are finicky to the extreme. His react differently between different Linux distro's on the same exact hardware.... I'm not positive, but I think he has Belkin.
     
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  3. grim

    grim Gigabyte Poster

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    got one of these from work to use. got as far as connecting it up but it doesn't like my ps2 keyboard with a USB converter :(

    grim
     
    Certifications: Bsc, 70-270, 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294, 70-298, 70-299, 70-620, 70-649, 70-680
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  4. ffreeloader

    ffreeloader Terabyte Poster

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    My experience with Belkin KVMs is that they are buggy, so I can't say I'm surprised.
     
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  5. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I'd agree, for the smaller ones. The Belkin Omniview business-class ones aren't buggy... but they're *expensive*.
     
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  6. grim

    grim Gigabyte Poster

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    i got it free from work, might have to get me a new keyboard too :)

    grim
     
    Certifications: Bsc, 70-270, 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294, 70-298, 70-299, 70-620, 70-649, 70-680
    WIP: 70-646, 70-640
  7. grim

    grim Gigabyte Poster

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    just thought i'd post an update. the kvm switch was working fine with both windows and linux (i havent installed the software) and then suddenly last night it stopped working at all. spent about half an hour fiddling with it trying to display a picture from either machine and then when i was just about to give up it started working again. it also randomly flicks between the pcs especially when ones rebooting but apart from these problems it's doing its job

    grim
     
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  8. derkit

    derkit Gigabyte Poster

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    Now that's why I say they're buggy - had another one give me grief at work today - urhg :cussing
     
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  9. mallet

    mallet Kilobyte Poster

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    Iam using one of those KVM switches at work to build machines on the side. My god are they annoying, it just works when it want to. Normally when it does this problem, I just take out both ends of the VGA and usb cables from the kvm switch and put it all together as its self powered.
    And this is just for building windows OS pcs not sure how well it would work with other OS's.
     
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  10. dpbarry

    dpbarry Bit Poster

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    Hmm!! Have to say, I've one of the BelkinOmniview SOHO Series 4-Port KVM Switches at work and it works great. I've 3 computers connected to it and use a mixture of PS/2 and USB leads.

    Declan
     
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  11. Raffaz

    Raffaz Kebab Lover Gold Member

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    Didnt realise so many people had problems with these. Never had any issues with the starview. Im thinking about upgrading mine to one with audio built in aswell.:)
     
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