Help me find a KVM switch

[BonzaiDuck]

Just for starters, I've been told that "Remote Desktop" replaces KVM, but I really NEED a KVM switch.

I'm currently using a 20-year-old Belkin Omni-View 4-port/PS-2 (and VGA) switch. I use PS/2-to-USB converter cables and plugs, and it works "OK" (I guess). There are occasional drop-outs when the USB connection gets reset, but that's a minor irritation. Since VGA doesn't cut it anymore, I do the video-switching in a second step, with the mouse-like controller device to a multi-port BenQ monitor. While that's also a minor inconvenience (4 clicks on the device's scroll-button), the problems inclining me to replace the Belkin are greater.

Recently I'd noticed that the mouse freezes on two or more computers running through the KVM. I thought it was shortcoming of my UPS, but it seems to happen when I shut one machine off and disconnect it. (It's nice to have a spare connection to the KVM when you're building a new computer -- another reason I "need" it.)

Let's face it though. It's time to dump this old Belkin KVM.

I'm looking for something with USB keyboard/mouse connections, and more likely DVI-I than HDMI or Displayport. At least with DVI, I can use a DVI-to-HDMI or vice versa in these connections, and don't want for anything in my box of cables. At least with DVI, I can run my monitor with a 144Mhz refresh rate.

USB ports that actually allow sharing of peripherals like a printer or scanner are a plus, but not essential. Audio could be a plus, but that's not essential. However, sooner or later, I may upgrade from 1920x1080 to UHD, and I'd want the KVM to offer more at 60Hz than 1080p.

I've looked at Belkin, Tripplite, IoGear, ATEN, Connect Pro. There are other models you can find at specialty "KVM" online stores -- very expensive. How are the Startech models, and which are better or worse?

Of course, I'd like to pay less than $200 for a good 4-port KVM. I'm willing to pay as much as $300, and at least give anything else a "look-see."

Any suggestions? I've been planning to do this for about 4 years, but was "getting by" with the old Belkin. I'd hoped that I could get a KVM for a good price that supported UHD, but we're talking some serious cash with some of those.

I'm just trying to prepare for some kind of future. I have no NEED at the moment for anything but 1920x1080. But that could change, and I'd like to have something that would give me better resolution than that.

The unit has to be reliable in the switching. And -- no dropouts and keyboard resets, or they must be few and far between.

 

[DaveSimmons]

My old iogear PS/2 + VGA KVM works at 1920x1080, but I wouldn't mind replacing it too.

Unfortunately every time I look, the USB + DVI devices are expensive and have mixed reviews so I've kept using the IOGear.

At this point I'd expect Displayport to be more future-proof than DVI, or possibly HDMI version eleventy.

So I'm no help, but am also interested in whatever people can suggest.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

My old iogear PS/2 + VGA KVM works at 1920x1080, but I wouldn't mind replacing it too.

Unfortunately every time I look, the USB + DVI devices are expensive and have mixed reviews so I've kept using the IOGear.

At this point I'd expect Displayport to be more future-proof than DVI, or possibly HDMI version eleventy.

So I'm no help, but am also interested in whatever people can suggest.

No help? At least I can see where others are "coming from" on this or that I'm not the only person who feels a "need" to have a KVM.

I came across this model today:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4114&cm_re=AVOCENT_KVM-_-17-791-221-_-Product

"Avocent" is associated with "Emerson," and I'd seen that name on some few products in the computer accessory category. I also associate it with a cheap line of consumer electronics I'd seen years ago.

I can't find any reviews for the SV240. I can't find any customer reviews, but I'll look again. It's priced as high as $345, and I've seen it for less than $300.

 

[XavierMace]

Probably because most people don't see a need for a KVM for desktops. Especially when you're talking about a $300 KVM.

Avocent is a pretty established player in the SMB rackmount IP KVM market but that's almost as dead as desktop KVM's. I've got an old Avocent DSR in the rack for the rare occasion my SAN is having an issue or somebody brings a computer over for help. Beat's dragging a monitor/keyboard/mouse out for that. For everything else there's RDP or vSphere.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Probably because most people don't see a need for a KVM for desktops. Especially when you're talking about a $300 KVM.

Avocent is a pretty established player in the SMB rackmount IP KVM market but that's almost as dead as desktop KVM's. I've got an old Avocent DSR in the rack for the rare occasion my SAN is having an issue or somebody brings a computer over for help. Beat's dragging a monitor/keyboard/mouse out for that. For everything else there's RDP or vSphere.

When I bought the Belkin Omni-Views, I think they were about $250 apiece -- and in those days, I definitely "needed" them. RDP might be fine for certain "work," but you're not going to do well playing back a captured movie or playing a game that way.

I use RDP to service other machines in the house located in the rooms of family members. Don't like walking up and down the stairs; don't like interrupting their privacy.

If Avocent is "established" -- and ads I'd encountered today gave me the same impression you do, I might risk buying the SV240 without hearing what someone else has to say about it. But this particular model appears on reseller sites with "Be the first to review this item." I can't find any reviews at sites like Tweaktown etc. None. It could be a new model, I can't say.

 

[XavierMace]

I'm not trying to be difficult so feel free to tell me if you don't want suggestions besides what KVM to buy. But remote administration is my life (at home and work, lol) so I'm just trying to understand the scenario where a KVM seems needed.

Given it's a regular KVM (not IP KVM), that implies to me that you are sitting in the same room as the computers, KVM, and input devices.

In my mind, primary computer (meaning the one used for movies/gaming) is directly hooked into the keyboard/mouse/monitor. So what is the "other" computer being used for that needs better performance than RDP provides? Or if movies and gaming are separate boxes, why?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm not trying to be difficult so feel free to tell me if you don't want suggestions besides what KVM to buy. But remote administration is my life (at home and work, lol) so I'm just trying to understand the scenario where a KVM seems needed.

Given it's a regular KVM (not IP KVM), that implies to me that you are sitting in the same room as the computers, KVM, and input devices.

In my mind, primary computer (meaning the one used for movies/gaming) is directly hooked into the keyboard/mouse/monitor. So what is the "other" computer being used for that needs better performance than RDP provides? Or if movies and gaming are separate boxes, why?

Glad you would ask.

There are two "primary" workstations -- which is more important changes back and forth over time. The first was the 2600K build; the second -- the 2700K -- both in CM HAF 932 cases, but that's incidental to the discussion. The WHS2011 server sits with them in yet another HAF 932.

Of course, to administer the server, I use the Dashboard from either of the workstations or RDP. There's a spare monitor for the server -- an old pre-HD LCD which sits above my desk and doesn't contribute to clutter. But there's only a single keyboard and mouse for all three systems, and I want to keep it that way.

The 2600K does "extra duty" in its HTPC function, and from the time I overclocked it and dubbed it my "main machine" to the present now that it's my "established" rig with the 2700K as my gaming choice, it runs 24/7, not allowed to sleep or hibernate. The 2700K sleeps and hibernates.

But the 2700K also can use an available HDMI 25' cable for connecting to the AVR/HDTV, and I can switch between the two computers with the remote for the AVR and/or HDTV (depending on whether I leave the AVR out of the loop for one of the systems.)

Let's say I "have too many computers for a mainstreamer," but I'm not a mainstreamer and it's not unusual for an "enthusiast" to have "more than needed."

This arrangement is not likely to change much, even as I go forward this year to build a Skylake system. I may offer up the 2600K (mobo, CPU and RAM) for sale to a friend. I may do something else with it, but the Skylake box will eventually replace it to leave 3 computers under my desk.

Any thoughts and ideas you have are welcome. I'd just grown used to having a KVM since around 1994.

 

[DaveSimmons]

In my case the KVM is used with a work desktop (Visual Studio, VMWare, Office, etc.) , gaming desktop, music jukebox PC, mac mini for OS X app testing, and sometimes a random other PC with different OS installed for testing.

The music jukebox could probably be controlled by RDP, but the others need regular keyboard-mouse control for gaming, development and app testing.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

In my case the KVM is used with a work desktop (Visual Studio, VMWare, Office, etc.) , gaming desktop, music jukebox PC, mac mini for OS X app testing, and sometimes a random other PC with different OS installed for testing.

The music jukebox could probably be controlled by RDP, but the others need regular keyboard-mouse control for gaming, development and app testing.

Still waiting for XavierMace to respond, I think you make my point about this. If you WANT more than a single PC, you will have them. If you want to avoid the clutter of multiple keyboards and mice, and you see RDP as merely a means of doing maintenance on this or that system, then you may WANT a KVM and feel that you NEED it.

Just as a footnote to the matter of "NEED." I have my personal files pertaining to managing our household here and the accounting or bookkeeping together with a "records facsimile archive" mostly accessible through but not limited to the 2600K system. For various reasons, my business rental property and homeowners' association activities on the 2700K.

Originally, this was to segregate Schedule E tax-related stuff from the rest of it, because a computer for that "business activity" is deductible. But that was originally set up for the machine replaced by the 2700K. I'm not going to keep a log-book of usage, now that the 2700K is the focus of gaming. And since I'm not keeping a log-book for a multi-use computer, I'm not claiming the deduction on Schedule E.

The document archive is accessible from all machines on the LAN, and resides on my server.

So I could see having multiple systems, using one for Visual Studio and database development or programming or whatever purposes one might have.

It seems to me that my original KVM investment totaling $500 (2x $250) was spread over 22 years, amounting to about $22/annum -- ignoring the difference between "real" and "nominal" dollars -- so we're comparing "nominal" amounts. I'm not suffering malnutrition for the $22/annum impoverishment.

So how long would a $320 Avocent KVM last? does it offer at least enough flexibility that I can use it for near-UHD resolution later? Unless desktops go the way of the steamboat and become totally obsolete, it could be useful for 5 or 10 years. That begins to approach the annual "straight-line" depreciation on the old Belkin KVMs. But otherwise, even for 5 years, a few Mexican dinners per year.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yeah, in my case I have to install invasive system-hogging apps like VMWare, InstallShield, VPN program on the work PC but I run a clean gaming PC with just the OS and Steam - Origin - UPlay. The jukebox PC is separate and just runs the OS and Foobar2000 because having alert and notification dings interrupt my music would drive me mad

Now and then I think about mashing the gaming and jukebox PCs together, but the jukebox PC is near-silent while the gaming PC is noticeably louder.

So, a KVM is a "need" for my use case. Hopefully the IOGear lasts a few more years and displayport or whatever gets better and cheaper while I wait.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Usually impolite to make two posts successively, but here's a question.

You will find a picture of the back-panel for the Avocent SV240-001 at several resellers including Egg. So here's a link. I suggest you zoom your web-page to 175 or 200% to look at the picture closely:

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/sv240.html

The power plug looks very much like the 3-prong AC plug of a PSU. The specs (scroll down the web-page) show an input AC rating of 100-240. Power consumption is specified as DC 12V 1.5A and says "power adapter with center-pin-positive polarity."

Usually the KVMs I've seen have a "power-brick" AC-to-DC transformer with a small female barrel-shaped plug for the device.

What's going on with this? Is the "brick" converting AC to DC built into the unit's chassis? Does that suggest a "heat issue?" Note that the operating temperature range for the KVM is limited to 40C or ~ 104F. My usage would have it on the box of drawers atop my desk and not in an enclosed location as with a bookshelf or stereo-cabinet.

But this just looks "unusual." I would've expected a power-brick. Otherwise, it could be nice, because the bricks can sometimes be cumbersome in close-together 3-prong ports of a UPS or power-strip.

But -- still -- not what one would expect.

 

[XavierMace]

I work nights, hence the late reply.

Bonzai, I've got more than my share of computers as well. So, I'm not going to fault anybody just because they have a lot of computers. That said, I'm not seeing the purpose/point of the current setup for the 2600K/2700K rigs. If it were me, I would toss the KVM, make the 2700K the main rig, move the 2600K over to the AVR/HDTV and make it a dedicated HTPC (which would have no need for a dedicated keyboard/mouse). Regarding that KVM, yes it has an internal power supply just like your PC and most business class devices.

Dave, have you tried just running the work stuff on your gaming system (unless you have a business need to keep them separate)? I've got VMWare Workstation (for running OSX and Android VM's), Adobe CS5.5, and VPN installed on my gaming system. I can't say that's ever bothered me nor do they seem to have any impact on my gaming experience. They are on when I'm working, off when I'm gaming. Used to have Visual Studio installed on it too back in the day but I don't really do any programming anymore. That said, I personally haven't had any issues coding in an RDP session. If you're on a Gigabit network there shouldn't be any delay.

My setup, for the record....

Primary/gaming system is in my room hooked up to a TV, dedicated keyboard/mouse. HTPC is in the living room, hooked up to a TV. If I need to do admin stuff on it, I RDP to it. Otherwise it's got a remote. Storage and everything else runs off the servers in the rack.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I work nights, hence the late reply.

Bonzai, I've got more than my share of computers as well. So, I'm not going to fault anybody just because they have a lot of computers. That said, I'm not seeing the purpose/point of the current setup for the 2600K/2700K rigs. If it were me, I would toss the KVM, make the 2700K the main rig, move the 2600K over to the AVR/HDTV and make it a dedicated HTPC (which would have no need for a dedicated keyboard/mouse). Regarding that KVM, yes it has an internal power supply just like your PC and most business class devices.

Dave, have you tried just running the work stuff on your gaming system (unless you have a business need to keep them separate)? I've got VMWare Workstation (for running OSX and Android VM's), Adobe CS5.5, and VPN installed on my gaming system. I can't say that's ever bothered me nor do they seem to have any impact on my gaming experience. They are on when I'm working, off when I'm gaming. Used to have Visual Studio installed on it too back in the day but I don't really do any programming anymore. That said, I personally haven't had any issues coding in an RDP session. If you're on a Gigabit network there shouldn't be any delay.

My setup, for the record....

Primary/gaming system is in my room hooked up to a TV, dedicated keyboard/mouse. HTPC is in the living room, hooked up to a TV. If I need to do admin stuff on it, I RDP to it. Otherwise it's got a remote. Storage and everything else runs off the servers in the rack.

You've actually added new dimensions to the discussion here. I think your recommendations lead into an area of personal inclinations/preferences, household computing strategy, efficiency and priority. But my own "steady-state" configuration, evolved as it has, may just reflect how I've slowed down in my Medicare-eligible aging.

I could investigate VM configurations, which is something I've never tried. It is true that I could move everything to the 2700K, but that is actually an ongoing process under way at a very leisurely pace.

So I have to maintain a minimum of four computers for three people, and I choose to have active five computers with the spare for myself. We actually have, among those, a Wolfdale C2D/GByte mATX 610i system still in its extended life-cycle as it pertains to a pattern of replacement which is in the larger scheme of things.

I'm replacing our server, but the replacement will have a period of overlap (until I begin to think I have an advantage with two functioning servers). I'm looking at the issue of security together with that question, because I want to host my own web-server. And I don't expect to go online with it until next year, since all the practical small-server needs are fully addressed right now with the WHS-2011/2008 R2 box.

So looking at a wider "big picture" with a longer "time-horizon," I want my own workstation redundancy in the event that a machine is down for more than 5 days. I want the ability to hook in some hardware-build-in-progress while I tweak it.

At the same time, getting back to that "preferences" idea, my preferences have been shaped by a history of untutored, self-discovered, home-grown experimentation and therefore -- evolution. My HTPC "functionality-without-dedication" came from "experimenting" with tuner cards going back to 2002.

So what you've said gives me a better idea of simpler, less-cluttered options. But in the middle of all this, my limited tech-wit, my wider responsibilities and time, and the hardware-fiddling I've been doing lately, I don't want to jump in to VM-Ware right away, probably need to speed up the retirement of the 2600K or its "re-deployment," -- and in addition to the 2012 R2 Essentials build, I'm looking toward checking out of a Newegg cart for Z170/6700K parts late in the year.

If I already regularly use RDP, Dashboard or VNC, I can't rid myself of the thought that I "need" a KVM, even if I really really don't need a KVM -- given the simpler possibilities.

Given what you've said, I'm going to order the Avocent/Emerson KVM. It would support near-UHD resolutions if and when I get rid of this BenQ XL2420Z. I now have a special prescription pair of "computer glasses" so I'm not going to do that for a while. It probably wouldn't make a difference that I'd feel comfortable with.