[ale] OT: Can anyone recommend a KVM switch?

[Scott Plante]

I'll second the recommendation on Synergy. I've been using it for at least
a decade and probably close to two. The main thing is you need a separate
monitor for each system, but if you have two or three computers on your
desk, Synergy is a much more natural way to share a keyboard and mouse.
When you move your mouse from one screen to another, the keyboard follows,
even though they're different computers and operating systems. I actually
have a little IOGear KVM on my desk, but I only use it when the main system
is down or I need to do BIOS stuff. The rest of the time I use Synergy to
switch. I do use the commercial version from symless.com on the Mac, but I
just use the version from the OS repo for openSUSE. I see it's available
for MacPorts on MacOS for free, but I paid a long time ago for the Symless
version and get free updates, so I haven't tried the MacPorts version.

Scott

On Tue, Feb 15, 2022 at 5:40 PM lnxgnome via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:

> I'll second IOGEAR. I'd been using a 4-port iogear KVM switch (DVI &
> USB2.0) for 5+ years. I'm down to two computers on my desktop, and neither
> have DVI ports, so the iogear went into a box unit I need it for something
> else.
>
> I'm now on a Avmton 2port HDMI KVM, that I don't use for KVM. I use it for
> a USB switch, because it was relatively cheap, and has *hot-keys*. I
> switch between video inputs on the monitors themselves.  That gives me
> either computer on either monitor, or both, or one computer on one monitor
> and the other computer on the other monitor.
>
> I've had good luck with USB-2-PS2 adapters and aBelkin 2-port (VGA/PS2)
> KVM (both products bought 10+ years ago, so never-mind ....)
>
> Also consider a software KVM, like Barrier/Synergy/Mouse without Borders.
> I used Barrier before, and Synergy before it became a commercial product.
>
>
> On 2/15/22 2:37 PM, Bob Toxen via Ale wrote:
>
> I've been very happy with my 4-port Iogear KVM switch (VGA & USB) for the
> 5-7 years that I've had it.
>
> Bob
>
> On Tue, Feb 15, 2022 at 11:53:45AM -0500, Scott Plante via Ale wrote:
>
> Coincidentally, just about a week ago I happened to watch this side-by-side
> review of the PiKVM v3 and another Pi based solution called TinyPilot
> Voyager. I haven't tried either though. That video was the first I'd heard
> of them.
> https://youtu.be/TIrkEr2AeDY
>
> TinyPilot Voyager: https://tinypilotkvm.com
>
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 4:20 PM DJPfulio--- via Ale <ale at ale.org> <ale at ale.org> wrote:
>
>
> My last IBM 101M keyboard has a few keys broke that won't come back.
> Picked up a cheap Logitech 845 wired keyboard, forgetting that mice and
> keyboards are USB these days. All of mine have been using ps2 ports the
> last ... er ... 20+ yrs.
>
> I have a USB-2-ps2 adapter, but it doesn't seem to work with the KVM.
> Tried it with both the Logitech and a few other devices. All are known to
> work, I've just never used them with the KVM.
>
> Have a Belkin OmniCUBE 4-port KVM switch here that needs to be replaced.
> The Belkin is VGA + ps2 only, but has been solid and supports 1920x1200p
> resolutions without a problem.
>
> I've been spoiled. Devices tend to work forever (15+ yrs) around here. The
> Belkin still works, BTW. I did have to buy an active adapter to get the
> nVidia 1030 (a GPU I didn't actually want to buy, but was forced into) to
> support VGA.
>
> So, I've been looking at 4-port 4K HDMI + USB KVM switches.  There seem to
> be the cheap ones which are $30-$150, with complaints that the USB devices
> get disconnected with every change to a different computer. They don't keep
> the keyboard/mice connections alive when on another box. Also, most of the
> clearly non-fake reviews complain about dead ports in a few weeks to 6
> months.
>
> What are you good people using?
>
> Has anyone tried the PiKVM-Switch? https://pikvm.org/ This is an IP
> switch with support for fully remote management like a DRAC or IPMI tool,
> just with constantly patched, no Java, no ActiveX, dependency problems.
> They planned to sell it for under $100, but that seems to have gotten raise
> to $150 by the places carrying the "hat" for a pi. I think the r-pi v4 is
> separate. This is just for the "hat".
>
> Different subject ... anyone need a bunch of ps2 (keyboard/mouse) cables?
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