3 monitors to 2 PCs

[RelaxTheMind]

I currently have 3 24" monitors on my main. my work is paying for a new computer + 3 monitors. as geeky as i am i dont want nor have the space to have 6 monitors (server/laptops already put out enough heat) added to my home workspace.

Looking at prices of KVMs that support triple monitors its kind of out of the question, not to mention that dual monitor KVMs ive used in the past tend to be really touchy.

Is there an easier way other than using the dual inputs of each monitor and just switching each one via monitor source buttons everytime or is there some sort of software that can possibly do it. google searches bring me back to pretty much this same conclusion and the triple kvm thing as well.

any ideas or any solutions i may have overlooked?

 

[videogames101]

remote desktop / vnc / ssh with x11?

 

[randomactsoftech]

there are some monitors (I know for sure that dell has one) that have a "quick input" button that will switch the monitors input to the last input you used before your current one. if you run different inputs from both computers into all three monitors you can just "quick input" switch them. I do realize that this requires 3 button pushes.... and to be honest I would never settle for a 3 button solution to a problem like this... but it may be better than what your doing now.

 

[_Rick_]

I had some old Eizos that could be controlled via USB, going so far as to switch them on/off via USB, but not change source.

What might work though, is one direct input device for each PC, to wake it up (a mouse or keyboard, or even something more specialized) and using a script that switches off the outputs.
Then you can wake one machine with the dedicated input device, switch off the outputs of the other with the shared I/O, and normally the screens should cycle to the now-active input.


It might not work, but it's my best guess at avoiding reaching for the screens every time.
And since RDP only works with single screens, that's not going to help either.