Problem with KVM switch ps/2 to USB mouse
 

I've just bought a KVM switch to run my new computer and old computer off of one Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse.

By connecting up in different ways I have learned that all the cables are working perfectly.

I have carried out the modification to /etc/modprobe.d/psmouse.conf

The KVM switch is ps/2 the mouse input on one computer is USB.

The problem appears to be the conversion from ps/2 to usb input for the mouse, remember the converter cable IS working.

The cable switches between computers, but I can only use the mouse on the main computer Slackware 13.37 and Current if I use a separate USB mouse plugged into another socket.

Also the resolution defaults to 640x480 on my HD flatscreen monitor.

On the other computer the mouse works, native ps/2, and the resolution is 1920x1080 in both SalixOS 13.1 and WindowsME (don't laugh - I like old games).

Any suggestions.

samac

KVM has resolution limits
 

One item to consider is that KVM switches have limitations for the monitor resolution. If you're attempting to use a higher resolution or frequency combination that is not supported by the switch then your setup may revert to the lower resolution.

As an experiment you could run your monitor at a lower resolution (1024 x 768) or different frequency and notice what happens using the switch.

The video support limitations for the switch should be listed in the documentation that came with the switch or find it online at the manufacturer's web site.

Just a thought.

Edit: I recently purchased a USB KVM and the the keyboard and mouse connections were NOT interchangeable. I discovered this after RTFM when solving my problem. Perhaps the same is true with your PS2 connections.

here problem in EDID profile of the monitor
type for diagnostic:
grep "EDID" /var/log/Xorg.0.log

I have exactly the same setup and result. I simply use a different mouse for each box. I suspect that if I had a usb-KVM, then all would work correctly.

Busy setting up 14.0 at the moment, but here are my thoughts so far:

EDID not detected properly this would account for the resolution as the switch can handle 1920x1080

It could be the mouse, it seems that not all mice are created equal, so I have ordered a mouse that is both ps/2 and usb compatible, if that isn't the problem then I will have to get an active ps/2 to usb adapter.

Guess I will look at it again once I have 14.0 fully configured.

samac

OK I am now using the KVM switch. In order to get it to work I required to get a ps/2 KVM switch talking to a USB port on the motherboard for the mouse.

I required to buy an active ps/2 to usb cable and a dual mode mouse. This gets the computers both running off of one keyboard, monitor and mouse.

The default resolution on my Slackware64-14.0 box is 1024x768, however it is 1920x1080 on the other box SalixOS-13.1/WindowsME.

Now how to get EDID recognized by Slackware. Odd, especially when SalixOS detected it first time (I guess I'll need to take an aspirin).

samac

OK final update.

I switched the cable around so computer 2 became computer 1 and vice versa, and the kvm switch correctly detected the monitor and resolution on my Slackware64-14.0 machine.

Curiously the other computer was correctly detected when running WindowsME but not when running SalixOS, still as I will only rarely be using SalixOS I consider this thread closed.

samac