USB/DVI KVMs

[Stuart Biggerstaff]

For whatever reason, we've had better luck using PS/2 KVM switches with
dongles on computers that just have USB.  We have one PC using a DVI
port and converter as a second VGA one, too.  That should at least be
cheaper than a native DVI KVM switch.

We are using one of these with a rack full of Dell servers that don't
have native PS/2 interfaces.  It has the advantage of having an
individual button for each port, and they have an identical 16-port one.
http://www.zonetusa.com/DispProduct.asp?ProductID=93

At home, I've been using one of these, for a couple of years.  I had
trouble with a similar Belkin one, but unfortunately the Belkin one is
easier to find now.  But the Inland one almost never loses connection
and the Belkin one seems to need re-initialized to one or the other PC
at least every half hour.  I got mine at Micro Center, who don't have
them any more.
http://www.futurepowerpc.com/scripts/product.asp?PRDCODE=KVIN-08214&REFI
D=FR



Stuart Biggerstaff
Systems Technician
Linda Hall Library of Science Engineering & Technology
5109 Cherry St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2498

Phone:	(816) 926-8748
	(800) 662-1545 x748
FAX:	(816) 926-8790
URL:	www.lindahall.org 
-----Original Message-----
From: linux-users-bounces at linux-sxs.org
[mailto:linux-users-bounces at linux-sxs.org] On Behalf Of Bill Campbell
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 8:36 PM
To: linux-users at linux-sxs.org
Subject: Re: USB/DVI KVMs

On Mon, Dec 10, 2007, Collins Richey wrote:
>On Dec 9, 2007 11:08 PM, Kurt Wall <kwall at kurtwerks.com> wrote:
>> Hi, list,
>>
>> I'm looking for recommendations on two to four port KVMs that support

>> USB and DVI. Audio would be nice, too, but I can live without it. I 
>> suppose the desired max resolution would 1600x1200. This is for home,

>> not the office, if that makes a difference in what you'd recommend.
>>
>> It looks the IOGear KVMs would do the trick, but before I commit my 
>> shekels, I'd like some input.
>>
>
>I'll be interested to hear the results. We've had almost universally 
>bad experience with KVMs at work. Either the damned things don't work 
>with all equipment, or they die after a couple of months in service.

I'm interested as well.

We have been using some rather inexpensive Belkin 4-port PS/2 KVM
switches with good results.  My desktop has a 21in Nokia 445Pro monitor,
Microsoft Natural keyboard (ancient, with the under keyboard flipup on
the front), Logitech 3-button mouse, two Linux boxes, a Mac Mini, and
occassionally a Powerbook.  The USB Macs have adapters to PS/2.

I did some research on Google a while back for USB/DVI, finding several
options, most fairly expensive compared to the Belkins.

Bill
--
INTERNET:   bill at celestial.com  Bill Campbell; Celestial Software LLC
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236-1676

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