Resolved: Hardware Question

[richy]

I'm looking for a contraption that an old work of mine had but not quite sure what to search for and where.

If you've got two computer boxes, you can have them both on, and by just flicking a switch your monitor switches between the two machines so that you can use the same keyboard and monitor.

If anyone could help, it would be very useful!

[dglienna]

You need a KVM. Here's a link:

here

[Dave Sell]

Yep, you're lookin for a KVM. A word of advise: never buy the mechanical-switch kind. Always get the electronic kind.

[dglienna]

why? my buddy used to have one, and he didn't seem to have any trouble with it.

[Dave Sell]

Because the contacts oxidize after around 6 months to a year, and stop working. At first, only little problems, like the monitor looks all purple, keyboard signals flake out, machine crashes, lose your mouse. Trust me it's a nightmare. I have seen this on every single mechanical KVM I have ever seen without exception.

Sooner or later, the contacts will oxidize.

[dglienna]

that makes perfect sense to me. I always like to know the reason behind some posts here. helps in committing it to memory.

[RobDog888]

Not to mention that your mouse will lock up once in a while forcing
a reboot.

I use a Linksys 4 CPU KVM to control my three systems. Works
great - SVIEW04 V.2

[Dave Sell]

Ya, unfortunately, this is true with both the mechanical and electronically designed KVMs.

[RobDog888]

I have been using mine for over a year and I have
not had a single mouse/keyboad lock.

[Robbo]

yep decent switch is all you need, various ones on the market, normally allow 2-4 PCs all to be connected via same keyboard/mouse screen, used on servers etc, just put resolved on the header

[richy]

Cheers thanks very much everybody.

Not sure if I'll go for it just yet, as I never realised they were so expensive.

For £150 I could probably just buy a new monitor and keyboard and a new desk to put them all on, and maybe a chair with wheels so i can roll between the two!

[Dave Sell]

Originally posted by richy
Cheers thanks very much everybody.

Not sure if I'll go for it just yet, as I never realised they were so expensive.

For £150 I could probably just buy a new monitor and keyboard and a new desk to put them all on, and maybe a chair with wheels so i can roll between the two!

I paid $US 200 for my electronic KVM and I have used it extensively for the last 3 years. I love it. I am ready to get another one. I hate multiple monitors/keyboards/mice. Just takes up too much space. They are quite worth the money.

[Dave Sell]

drool...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...731095483&rd=1