Need opinion on those combo switch thingies..

[Viztech]

that you can share a common monitor, keyboard and mouse between several computers.

FWIW, I want to use 3 computers, 2 of them ATX and one AT that does have a PS2 mouse port. I will run NT4 Server, Win 2K Pro, and Win98 on them. Also I would like to use a M$ PS2 Intellimouse.

I know that many of you use these switches, so I would like to get a little input.

TIA

viz

 

[Engineer]

Viz,

I don't think it matters what kind of OS you run on the KVM (Keyboard-Video-Mouse) switches. We use a couple of them at work and they work very well. You simply press one button and it switches from one to the next. I think the one we have (been awhile) has 4 sets...

Take care and smile

 

[osmo]

Viz-

I use a 4 port Belkin Omni Cube KVM. It's a light duty one, but works well for me. There are many different configurations, AT/PS2/Combo etc. OS doesn't come into play on mine, but support for the mouse functionaliy varies. To take full advantage of that intellimouse, read the specs carefully. I have a wheelmouse that doesn't scroll through the KVM.

Osmo.

 

[DanC]

Viz -
Belkin Omni-view 4 port here. Works great - the only drawback I see is the ctrl-alt-shift + number + enter is a little hard to get used to.

If I had the money and could justify it, I'd go with an Apex.

It switches dandy between Win98, WinNT, and Linux without a hiccup.

 

[Viztech]

I was wondering about the wheelmouse. I will watch that, thanx.

 

[DanC]

Viz -
I also use the wheel-mouse. Linux doesn't care, Win98 uses the functions - NT ignores it most of the time. doesn't pose a problem.

 

[RaySun2Be]

My son has a 2 "port" video/keyboard switch that he uses to switch the video from one PC to another.

We use two 4 "port" Belkin KVM switches at work and they work great!

For Danc's benefit, our servers also use 2 4 port Compaq KVMs, software driven. Very nice too, hit a key and up pops a menu you select from.

The only grip I have with them (KVMs) is that they are NOT cheap!

 

[DanC]

Ray -
Nothing Compaq makes is CHEAP - but, perhaps one gets what one pays for?
At least we hope so.

And... they better have taken care of your UPS problem, or I'll be smacking someone with a trout!

 

[divide by zero]

I have a Belkin 2-way KVM that I'm using just for the V right now. Works fine of course, with my 14" monitor. $100 for the switch as a previously returned item at that most expensive of stores - CompUSA.

I'm hoping to need more of them soon. I ordered the 4-way pushbutton KVM switch from www.harbourtownsales.com for $45. I believe it has an extra port for daisy-chaining.
I found decent prices on cables at www.pccables.com
Make sure which type of cables your switch takes Male-Male or Male-Female or the expensive 3-in-1 cables with a single big connector on one end.

I'll let you know how it works when I get it set up in about a week.

 

[Bleep]

Viz:
I have been using a 4 port KVM switch here, it is a mechanical switch (generic) new price with ALL the cables for 59 bucks in a shop in Omaha, if this something you might use PM me and I will look up there website for you.
Bleep
By the way got the OS that I got from you installed and really appriciate it.

 

[ctll]

that's thingys, not thingies

 

[JWMiddleton]

Hi viztech, I bought a generic 4-way KVM switch about 2 weeks ago for $35. Cables cost me $8.00 each for video (4x) and $6.00 each for K & M (8x). The only problem I had with this cheap box was with an LX board. The mouse would go crazy when I switched back to it. So I stuck an old serial mouse on that one and it was fine. But, the BX boards have no problem. With this cheaper box I boot a machine all the way up before I switch away from it otherwise it doesn't see mouse and video. Better boxes may not have this problem. Regardless, I love it!

Good luck.

 

[Russ]

Viz,

If you're only doing 3 systems, get an analog switch, and save some money. A 4 porter can be had for $25 at many places. I have five of them daisy chained for Rack #1, and I didn't have any problem with signal degradation until the 5th (Node 12 and 13 require a keyboard directly connected, but VGA works fine).

I did get digital switches for Rack #2, but that's mostly because I want to make it neater and tidier than #1.

Russ, NCNE

 

[networkman]

I have a pair of 4 port Belkin OmniView KVMs at my house - each was about $135 including all cables(good deal at the time). I use a mixture of Win9x, Win2K, NT and NetWare all without any problems.