question about KVM switches...

[SpecialEd]

the KVM switch that links the two servers I have at work ate it yesterday, and needs to be replaced.

I don't really know much about these switches... I was wondering what brands I should look for? whats a good price? Does video quality degrade? Can I still support the same resolutions as if I plugged a monitor directly into a computer?. I went to newegg.com and saw a few, but i'm not too sure if they are good deals. I'm looking to purchase two of them: one for the servers and one for my work area (so I dont have to crawl under my desk every two seconds to switch the monitor cable if i'm working with two computers). Any info is greatly appreicated! Thx!!

Ed

 

[CraigRT]

Bump for ya, I am looking into a KVM switch as well!

 

[nightowl]

One of the labs that we have here at school is using a large amount of the 2-port Linksys KVM switches. The switch itself is a fairly small box and the VGA quality seemed fine at 1024x768 (I have not used them with higher resolutions).

 

[FreshPrince]

belkin kvm switch



<< Supports video resolutions up to 2048x1536@85Hz through a 400MHz bandwidth >>

 

[CraigRT]

Actually, after a few mins of looking, I found the perfect one for my company, anyways...

here is the link, I am going to look into this one further, as my local dealer can get their hands on these babies.

 

[43st]

We install these... We use Cybex for almost everything. Can be found here..

 

[SpecialEd]

cool.. thanks for the links guys! this should help!

 

[JackBurton]

I'd like to add that Cybex switches are BAD ASS! If you want a top of the line switch, go for a Cybex.

 

[SpecialEd]

KVM switches can use refresh rates higher than 65hz right? As I read these summaries, it seems all they advertise is the highes res at 65hz. They never mention lower res @ higher refresh rates. I'd hate to stare at a monitor that's only refreshing at 65hz all day.

 

[Woodie]

I've been using them for a while....

ByteLan 4-port....works ok, requires a power brick, has PS/2 and AT/serial mouse ports
Tripp-Lite 4 port...works great. No power supply required, only has PS/2 connections. Scroll mouse works through this. Running @ 1280x1024@85Hz...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
Cybex Commander 8 port...works nice. Has standard power cord, allows you to put labels on-screen (in the device). Comes w/ 10' cables, AT/PS2/Serial mouse, can be cascaded, has scan mode, worked fine w/ 1280x1024@85Hz, scroll-mouse functionality did NOT work.

Don't get a mechanical one, get an electronic one that provides mouse/keyboard emulation (so the system being booted doesn't have to be the one selected). I prefer one that doesn't require power, but that depends on your environment.

I have one at home, one at work, and quite a few spread out across the various labs I work in.

--Woodie

 

[SpecialEd]

thanks Woodie, good info.


I see these KVM switches on sale at newegg for under 100 dollars... they seem very appealing. However all the brands mentioned thus far seem to sell KVM switches for 200+ dollars.

Is it worth it to go for these cheapo brands, or should I stick with Cybex or Type-lite?

 

[Woodie]

KVM's are surprisingly expensive.

The Cybex Commander I mentioned was originally > $800, and I'm not sure that included the *custom* cables. Buyer beware--the switch is sometimes decievingly low, and they zing you on the cables!

But, remember as you price shop, how much would a second monitor cost you? I used to use a simple mechanical 4 port that was just a video switch, and that actually worked very well, but having 3 keyboads was getting really irritating (and crowded).

--Woodie

PS - If you want a video switch, LMK.

 

[SpecialEd]

thanks for the offer... but one of my main objectives is to get rid of the extra keyboard and mouse that i have currently. I ALWAYs type on the wrong keyboard for which ever computer i'm using.

And before I realize it, i press ALT CTRL DEL like five time thinking my computers locked up, only to discover I've been using the wrong keyboard and that i've just rebooted the system that currently doesn't have a monitor plugged into it. I also don't really have enough room for a second monitor in my work space. So the KVM switch is probably best for me. They are more expensive that I expected. All i have to do is convince my boss its worth the investment in me...

 

[DcHoliday9]

Don't get a Belkin they suck. We have one here and have had nothing but problems with it.

 

[RayH]

I've been really happy with the IOGear 4 port KVM.

Comes with decent cables which is a big plus. I run my monitor at 1280x1024 @ 85Hz without any problems.

I'm using an old Gateway Anykey keyboard and was able to program switching of each pc to an unused function key.

The only drawback I've seen which is probably the case with all kvm's is that windows tries to detect the monitor on boot up and will not detect your monitor if you don't have the switch set to that pc during boot. This causes windows to drop the refresh rate to the default which I think is 60Hz.

If anybody knows how to prevent this I'd love to find out.

 

[SpecialEd]

if anyone was wondering... I ended up getting the Linskey 2 port KVM switch for my work station and a Linskey 4 port for the Servers, both from Newegg. They works wonderfully! I don't lose any video quality (1280x960 @ 85hz) and don't notice any loss keyboard or mouse sensitivity. Plus the 2 port came with two keyboard/video/mouse cables. On top of that, its only 48 dollars for the 2 port and 56 dollars for the 4 port!!!

Once again, hats off to Newegg. They Rock!

 

[dszd0g]

I have had a number of customers with Belkin KVM switches. They are crap. I have had a couple of machines detect that they had a black and white monitor instead of color when going through the switch. After not in use for a while, I am often unable to see anything on the screen through the KVM switch. Hooking a monitor directly to the machine gets the signal again. In addition the ones I have used have not supported both PS/2 and AT connectors simultaneously.

Unfortunately, I have not come across a brand of KVM switches I haven't had problems with. Maybe I am too picky, I just think a KVM switch should perform just as well as if the cables were plugged in to the computer directly. One shouldn't get a blurry image, one shouldn't have to reboot the machine with the reset button in order to be able to type again.

One thing I have noticed with KVM switches is that the quality of the cables makes a huge difference. Make sure you get good quality cables.

I have not worked with a Cybex KVM switch, so I cannot comment on it.

 

[sitka]

all kinds of switches at work and most suck. Cybex Switchview the cheap 4 port ps/2 one is the absolute best value, never goes out of sync, High rez with good cables. And get this, support for five botton wheeled optical mouse. Future Power 4D. ie cheap M$ exporer..the new silver one. Try that!!! Cybex is now Avocent. Don't know about the USB ones but definately take a look. ctrl crlt A or B or C or D.

This goes down as my favourite periph of all time, landslide.