Any one use/used a KVM switch?

[McBainUK]

I'm thinking of getting this KVM switch to allow me to have my gaming PC and my dev/HTPC machine hooked up to one monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Have a 19" Samsung running off VGA, one PC with WinXP and GBPVR and another with WinXP and Ubunu linux on dual boot. I want to use the KVM with a Microsoft Multimedia keyboard and IntelliMouse.

Questions/Issues
* Googling I've found that not all keyboards work with KVM due to a Scroll Lock key problem.
* Would a KVM introduce lag on keyboard/mouse commands? This would be a nightmare when playing games.
* Would all the extra multimedia buttons on the keyboard still work when used through a KVM?

Anyone help?

[Spartan]

I'm thinking of getting this KVM switch to allow me to have my gaming PC and my dev/HTPC machine hooked up to one monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Have a 19" Samsung running off VGA, one PC with WinXP and GBPVR and another with WinXP and Ubunu linux on dual boot. I want to use the KVM with a Microsoft Multimedia keyboard and IntelliMouse.

Questions/Issues
* Googling I've found that not all keyboards work with KVM due to a Scroll Lock key problem.
* Would a KVM introduce lag on keyboard/mouse commands? This would be a nightmare when playing games.
* Would all the extra multimedia buttons on the keyboard still work when used through a KVM?

Anyone help?

A few years back, my wife and I used to share a monitor and had an IOmega (?) KVM. It had the scroll lock feature as well.

As far as I can remember, I had no noticable lag (played Wolfenstien at the time), and the multimedia keys worked fine (I only use Microsoft Natural Pro keyboards).

[kaffeen]

Not sure if this helps, but I have this KVM solution (which is a different solution than what you are looking for)...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817107564

I have not experienced any problems, noticeable lag time, or operational problems @ 100ft.

[stu8080]

McBain, I use the Belkin model previous to that one, and have had no problems with various mice and keyboards, including mulitmedia buttons.

I cant get a USB mouse to work through it though, with the P/S2 to USB adapter.

[acheyne]

The only problems I have seen is with video resolution. My monitor runs at 1680x1050 and I haven't been able to find a switch that works at that resolution.

My other problem has always been that I always seem to want to use the switch between a Mac and a PC and I run into hardware compatibility problems.

[McBainUK]

McBain, I use the Belkin model previous to that one, and have had no problems with various mice and keyboards, including mulitmedia buttons.

I cant get a USB mouse to work through it though, with the P/S2 to USB adapter.

It's a PS/2 keyboard but a USB mouse, but would connect the mouse via a MS supplied USB->PS/2 converter, or does the mouse have to be native PS/2?

Of course another option is to get a USB keyboard, and go for the USB kvm...

[stu8080]

I think id get a USB KVM if i was buying one now. You could also get audio switching too, and some ive read about will allow switching of USB printers too. It would be nice to get a p/s2 and usb device in one so you could choose.

Others seem to have had success with USB > P/S 2 converters, but it never worked on my Belkin model so i just use a spare cordless mouse instead.

Also ive never tried them with wireless keyboards or mice and dont know if that would be an issue later on?

[madcat]

I have a small KVM from Aten (here it is - ignore that price: http://www.pcsales.com.au/product_info.p...cts_id/900)

They have neweer models that do USB and audio too. I can tell you that i used the PC for games, and switching from High-res XP (on a 19" LCD) to a console text-based Linux works fine without a hitch.

I've used KVM switches in the past, but this is the quickest one I saw.

[bgowland]

I'm thinking of getting this KVM switch to allow me to have my gaming PC and my dev/HTPC machine hooked up to one monitor, keyboard and mouse.

I use the exact model (and also bought it from ebuyer).

I have a Logitech Wireless Desktop MX setup (a few years old now). I connect the mouse and keyboard outputs of the wireless receiver into the switch. The keyboard output of the wireless receiver is USB but has a USB -> PS/2 converter. This works fine.

One problem I see is that the mouse has a Forward and Back button on the side of it (for web browser navigation) and a scroll wheel. These stop working when I switch over machines - they're fine when I boot up the machine that has the KVM switch focus but when I switch to the second machine they stop working - switching back to the first machine doesn't fix this, i.e., it breaks permanently until I reboot whichever machine has focus.

It seems to be a problem with the mouse driver - whichever machine is switched over to sees the mouse as a generic two button with no scroll wheel. Strangely enough, I have a scroll wheel on my keyboard and a Back button and they work fine after switching as do all of the multimedia buttons - it's just the mouse.

I haven't ever tried any other keyboards or mice on the KVM switch so I don't know if this would apply or if it's just the Logitech mouse driver that's the problem.

Cheers,
Brian

[McBainUK]

One problem I see is that the mouse has a Forward and Back button on the side of it (for web browser navigation) and a scroll wheel. These stop working when I switch over machines - they're fine when I boot up the machine that has the KVM switch focus but when I switch to the second machine they stop working - switching back to the first machine doesn't fix this, i.e., it breaks permanently until I reboot whichever machine has focus.

Bit confused, are you saying that after you switch you loose the use of the scroll wheel on both machines?

Or is it just the case that you need to remember to switch the KVM focus to the booting up machine so it can see the mouse and all its functions?