You don't need "KVM switches". They are sooooo last Millennium. Things have moved on, for the better.

Linux has vnc protocols so you can have the desktops from multiple servers on your PC: Clicky-clicky pointy - use different computers from the same keyboard and display.

You need a "router". Most people buy something that connects to their ISP and has a built-in router with ethernet ports for at least 4 computers to network them. This is called a "Modem / router". Mine is a "Netgear DG834G" which is "old" now, but cost little. The equivalent probably costs even less now.

It connects to my DSL ISP. It networks 4 PCs over ethernet, and many others over wireless. All PCs connected to the modem/router can access the internet and each other (if I allow them to). One of my PCs has a printer attached (by parallel port as it happens, but I have set up other networks where the printer is connected as a "network printer"), and it uses cups to allow any other PC on my LAN to print to it.

I think you are barking up the wrong tree with "KVM switches".

Read, research, and try again.

Yes, kind of. I used to have a VGA KVM switch but have not used any since I bought separate monitor/mouse/keyboard for each computer. Obviously, that would be more expensive but then you are not restricted by the length of your KVM cables and you have not nearly the amount of clutter.
As an alternative, check out Synergy, a project that reproduces KVM functionality in software (but when I tried it, there was conflict between Synergy and NFS).
As for vnc, I am rather annoyed by the way that it handles differently sized monitors. If I access the computer with the 22" from the 19", part of the display is always hidden.

Here's another vote for networked printing. I have a Windows laptop that's used as my print server. It's just a matter of setting up samba and CUPS. Of course, I don't print all that much, so I just leave the laptop off until I do need to print something.

Perhaps off-topic:
@jay73
The solution for me was to have my server serve up a display that my client (laptop) could handle.

In my server's rc.local I put the following:That starts a vncserver running as myself (tred) on display :1 with a 1024x768 screen. Of course you are free to choose any resolution your client (eg laptop) hardware supports.

I can then connect to my server, from my laptop, with vncviewer server:1 and all is sweet. I do not even have to login, as this is handled by ssh key-based authentication, so the remote desktop just opens and is instantly usable. No passwords, fully secured, and if you link this command to an icon on your desktop (or menus) then it's just point-click-and-USE(TM).

I can shut down my local vncviewer and reconnect later - my :1 desktop on the server is exactly as I left it (I didn't logout, I just closed the connection) so the same apps are still running on the remote server, I just have not been able to interact with them whilst I was disconnected. [See this as a sort of GUI equivalent of the CLI screen command).

Note: This is not "desktop sharing". If I am also logged in locally to the GUI on my server (on display :0), what is happening there is completely separate from what is happening on my login on the vnc display on :1

This functionality is awesome!

I love it!

Now that is useful information. Page bookmarked for future reference.

As I understand it, switch (ethernet switch, to be precise) will help you only if printer can be connected to your network directly (via Ethernet). If printer can be connected only to computer (USB, Parallel port), then the only way would be to share it across the network and keep machine with printer online all the time.

Cheapest ethernet switch I saw costs approximately $10 (D-Link DES 100SD, for example. Not sure, if it is still available for purchase).


And if you are connected to internet using 1-port ethernet adsl modem and want to add another computer without keeping one machine online all the time (or purchasing another modem with more ports), then you still buy switch.

I thank everybody for all the excellent comments.

Today I bought a switch called '4 port USB Switch'.

It says share 1 device on 4 computers.

It doesn't need any power supply.

I made a deal with the shop. If it doesn't work, I can return in 14 days.

I paid about 60 dollars.

I am pleased because I am not going to lose my money.

However, I can't connect it to the computers; the cables are missing.

I must go to town again to buy cables. I hope I will find time to go to town within next 72 hours. I didn't think about the bloody cables when buying.
[CMP-USBSW3]

http://www.konigcomputer.com

Gins,

Are you intentionally taking the pi$$ ?

You have The previous posts have clearly referred to an ethernet switch / router.

Oooo. K.
Oooo. K.
You bought the wrong thing. You don't need USB cables. Take it back now.

Not all "switches" are the same: "Light switch", "ethernet switch", "4 port USB Switch": They are all different.

This thread is amusing me (and I need some amusement, sometimes ;) ) but I won't be replying to it further.

A suggestion to other LQ users: Click Gins at left, select "Find more posts by Gins". Read them.

I'd have thought getting a network printer (ie one that plugs directly into the network instead of a server or a 'switch') would be the simplest option.

We started with the question of connecting a printer to multiple computers WITHOUT using the network. This implies a USB switch, which was suggested.

Many suggested simply using the network. Gins did not want to do that.

Then someone said KVM switches---totally irrelevant.

Then back to a network solution.

Then he buys a USB switch. (Why would that not work?)

Then people start talking about networks again.


I think I am now completely lost.....

pixellany

You are referring to my other thread under the title 'A switch'.

As I said in that thread, I bought a switch from a hardware dealer. I made a deal with them. The deal is I could return to them within 14 days.

I didn't buy the cables. When I came home I noticed the necessity of cables.

I can't try it until I have the cables. I hope I will find time to go to town again to buy cables.

I don't live in town. I live in a small suburb.

The other thread is about connecting the stereo to 2 or 3 computers.

Our friends have contributed in an unprecedented manner. Now I have a couple of solutions to consider. When I go to town, I will ask a Hi-Fi dealer.

No, the title of this thread is "A switch"......

But the real issue is that you don't respond directly to what people are saying. I was mostly responding to someone who said you bought the wrong thing. I was the first to suggest the USB switch, but you never confirmed if you printer connects with USB.

Good luck...

As per useral I would strongly recomend staying away from switch manufacturers such as Dlink, linksys and other and going with NETGEAR.

Would that be for the USB switch, network switch, or KVM switch?

We still don't know if Gins' printer is USB--if so, he can presumably just use a USB switch.

If he does not want to have a network, then how does an Ethernet switch help? Besides, he would need a printer with an Ethernet port.

When you say something like that, you should explain WHY you think this way.