KVM switch compatible with Linux

tolstyi · 05-24-2005, 12:18 PM

I am looking for a cheap KVM switch that could handle a Linux box and a Windoze box. I heard some switched don't work very well with CPU running non-Windoze OS. Any experiences, suggestions? Thanks

johnson_steve · 05-24-2005, 01:52 PM

unless your talking about a software controlled kvm that's a load of crap. its a box with a switch in it. it cares nothing for your os. you can use them with mac, linux or windows or all 3 vga is vga, ps/2 is ps/2 they have nothing at all to do with what software your running.

Crito · 05-24-2005, 03:34 PM

Not quite right, the KVM needs to emulate a keyboard and mouse when you switch or those devices will be disconnected. The problem is most cheap KVMs only emulate a two button, no wheel mouse and when you switch back that confuses the @#$% out of X Windows.

Sorry I don't have a recommendation for you, however, as I've learned to live with my cheapo KVM -- the trick is switching to a CLI session (Ctrl-Alt-F1) and then back to X (Ctrl-Alt-F7) whenever it freaks, forcing X to reinit the device.

tolstyi · 05-24-2005, 03:35 PM

thanks for your reply. That's kind of what I was thinking. Some product reviews that are posted out there are confusing at best...

J.W. · 05-24-2005, 04:38 PM

My experience: Years ago I had a Belkin 2 port, running Windows on one machine and Linux on the other. I could always successfullyswitch *one time* over to the other machine, but could never switch back. It didn't matter whether I went from Linux to Windows, or Windows to Linux, it was always a one-way trip. This was frustrating in the extreme.

I solved the problem by replacing the Belkin with a Trendware 4 port. -- J.W.

johnson_steve · 05-24-2005, 07:29 PM

I unplug my keyboard and mouse all the time and plug them back in with no problem