KVM Switch

People keep bringing their computers here for me to clean up their messes. I want to buy a KVM box that I can just plug in their comp and use my monitor, keyboard and trackball, and it would be nice if I could get the other computer online through my cable modem, too. Anyone have any suggestions or warnings? BTW, my computer impaired sister in law is paying for this (because I have fixed her comp 3X from internet worms) so price is not a consideration! LOL!

 

I wouldn't say price is not a consideration, unless your SIW just hit the lotto. We modify Cisco KVM switches at work, and they cost us 8000.00+ prior to out Tempest modification.....
However, Apex (Avocent Outpost)has a nice digital 4 port switch in the market of 600.00, and Compaq has a 3 port for less.
Not having much luck with the search engines. So I can't give you a pic to look at, or more firm prices.
There is a BIG difference between digital and analog switches - analog being reach over and turn the knob to the computer you want, and digital letting you do it from software from any computer.
Get the digital is she will spring for it!!

Good Luck

Ski

If you are interested, I can get the appropriate numbers to search for from work - LMK

Can't spell

 

Did it call it the right thing??? The ones I have been looking at are in the $25-50 range... I wanna plug two comps in and share kb, monitor and mouse, and hopefully, my modem. $8K is like, ugh, 10 of my own systems???

 

IOGEAR's Miniview is rather nice.

 

Linksys KVM

 

If space is a problem, go for it. But you need cabling along with the switch box. Spare mouse and keyboard are really cheap.

You can get a two way VGA switch (one monitor, two computers) for $8 plus some cables (2-@$6.00), here:

http://www.rogerssystems.com/store/category.cfm?Category=284

 

Okay, good advice, thank you all. I believe I need not just a KVM, but a router, too. I want to be able to get other comps online to do updates etc, and my cable connection would be the easiest way to do that. I have a back-up dial-up, but even to update Norton takes FOREVER, plus it ties up the phone line. I guess the router is the way to go. Next question, wireless or cabled? How many comps can a router support? And, is it true that I don't need IS with one? I guess I am speeding into networking faster than I anticipated.
TIA
Johanna

 

I would go with a Router. They will alone support 1,4 or 8 which ever model you buy. And by using hubs and cables they will support more.

If IS means Internet Connections Sharing, No you do not need it with the Router.

Just a thought of mine maybe but;

Knowing the problem you had ( have ) with a machine in another thread, I myself would be very cautious about hooking a PC with a POSSIBLE Virus/Trojan infection to a Network without putting it on as the only machine first and doing a through house cleaning.

BillyBob

 

I didn't mean to shock you with the pricing - but I couldn't resist!! I am amazed when I look at some of the invoices for some of the equipment we deal with on a daily basis...

My son bought me a Network Anywhere 4 port router for less than 50.00 that works just great. In fact, I don't think I've ever run the CD that came with it, that's how easy is was. Plug & Pray big time. Win XP & 2K both found it and all is well. Had a little problem with Win 98, but after fiddeling around with it, it too is now OK. I have it plugged into an older hub to give me more expansion room.

Oh - and a KVM switch - love to have one, but I can't afford it!!

 

Beware the ides of .... KVMs. Never has there been a more disparaged product available. Translation: make sure you read some reviews and testimonials of the KVM you intend to buy before you plunk your dosh ($). Many KVMs are buggy or lack some key feature or degrade your video or just don't work as promised. I'm talking about KVMs in the $50-100 range. I researched them a good amount before I dropped about $100 on an Iogear MiniViewâ„¢ III USB KVMP . It's pure USB and comes with quality cables to prevent video signal degradation.

But even this excellent model has some troubles. About once a month, Windows will boot and the mouse and keyboard will not respond. Much worse than that, if you come back to your PC after leaving it up for about 3 hours, the KVM will not bring the PC back to life. I've already disabled all hibernation-related functions under "Power ". These problems were "major" when running Win98SE so, just because of this problem, I upgraded to XP Pro. With XP, I hit the power button when the above problems occur and Windows shuts down normally - thank God.

Another thing, I cannot get into the BIOS with my USB keyboard attached to the KVM even with all BIOS settings set correctly.
Of course, all the problems above may not appear if you buy a PS/2 KVM. Mine's pure USB. But keep in mind that some PS/2 KVMs will not work correctly with USB optical mice with a converter attached.

I've never heard such bad reviews of a product class until I researched KVMs. In the "affordable" price range, I'd go with Iogear. If you do, make sure to get the latest model - you can be sure that older models have some "quirks ". If you go cheap, you may find your video quality has been degraded in some way.

 

Thank you for the warnings! I have heard a few horror stories about KVM switches, too. But, when someone drops off their computer for me to "take a look at it ", I'd rather not have to sift through a pile of junk in the closet to get it up and running. I have an antique monitor in there that has never failed to be compatible, but it weighs two tons. I'm not really concerned about video quality, I just need to see the screen and be able to do my magic. A suggestion was made for a VGA, which is the monitor only. That would probably be sufficient, because I have a half a dozen mice and keyboards in that giant closet. What I REALLY wanted was to share my cable internet connection with these "guest" computers, but my research is telling me that I'll need a router for that. Sigh. It's getting more complicated than I thought! Ski, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do that requires an $8K KVM, anyway?

Johanna

 

Belkin is a good brand for KVM, I use one on my desk at work and have never had any real problem with it. Occasionally when switching from one computer to another the keyboard or mouse won't work and I just cycle around back to the computer I want and it works again.

I just took a quick look at Belkin's website and saw a couple of KVM's for about $50 or $60 for 2 ports.

 

The 'key' word was 'Tempest' - government secure - no electronic signature.
Worked on a 24 port fiber optic router yesterday that goes for a paltry 13500......

Our tax dollar at work!!

 

You can see some personal testimonials to various models of KVMs at newegg.com . It's pretty bleak...and amusing to read the comments.

If you're getting one just to work on PCs, I'd get a PS/2 (not USB only) KVM and don't spend too much.

 

I understand the idea of this but I do have a question or two arrived at from my some of my own expereince. And maybe just Food For Thought.

I brought just a PC here to work on using the equipment that I have here.

After gettings things all set and all appeared to work porperly I took it home. The ONLY thing that worked right was the keyboard.

Mouse would not work at all. I had a PS2 they had a USB which I frown on anyway as the main one cause they do not work in DOS or the safe Mode.

Monitor and Video card were a complete mis-match. ( very ugly screen ) So I had to spend time redoing everything again. Luckly the Video drivers were on his HD where I had but them before.

Wouldn't it have been better for me to bring at least the Monitor ?

I know it is tuff to carry this stuff around but I believe it turns out better in the end.

BillyBob

 

I do not want people to bring their monitors keyboards and mice!! Arrgghh!! I have a closet full of extras ( "Oh, I don't need this anymore, you keep it! ") and I have a vintage monitor and antiquated trackball (port-with-screws flavor) that seem to work with ANYTHING. But I don't want to have to get all my junk out to do a repair. I would like to plug it in, fix it and call them and tell them to "Come-n-get-it! ". Being able to share my cable connection would be a plus. People always seem to need new drivers and updates, and haven't got a clue where to find them or how to install them. I worked on a computer last night that is regularly on a cable modem (leases on modems with our local ISP are not interchangeable) and I could not get online because the phone modem needed a driver. So I spent an hour tracking it down, putting it on a floppy and installing it, only to find that the old phone modem was bad anyway. Grrr... I took it back to its house this morning and did all the updates there (yeah, it was another sister in law, so at least I had a babysitter! ) and now all is well with it. I am going to tell the 4 biggest PITA sis-in-laws to chip in and get me a router!

Ski- "government "- no other explanation necessary! LOL!!

Johanna

 

I have a vintage monitor and antiquated trackball (port-with-screws flavor) that seem to work with ANYTHING.

The Vintage Monitor deal is what caused me the problems. The machine worked fine here but not with their Monitor or Mouse

I had to re-install all of their Video and Mouse drivers etc. after I got it back to their house.

Apparently you have lucked out and have not run into that problem yet.

As to the antiquated TrackBall. Those things very often work just as well ( if not better ) than the newer stuff. I have a couple of them VERY dependable Items lying around here too.

As to the Router. I agree. Very nice to have. Even if you have to plug in a NIC for temp use. I have done that several times.

If it has a Dial up ISP I just dial my own phone number and if I get the busy tone I can ( most of the time ) be assured that the Modem is OK.

BillyBob

 

Consider getting a wireless router. Many come with hard-wired ports (mine has 3) so, in effect, such a router can do anything that a non-wireless can - assuming that 3 ports are enough.

Of course, my wireless router interferes with my wireless phone but oh well.

And I don't envy you the task of working on other people's PCs. I did it for a while and found the following:

- people don't consider your time to have value so they want it fixed for free (I think every PC repair person has encountered this one).
- their PC is from the pre-Pentium days but they want to upgrade it instead of buying a new one.
- most PCs come under the description, "if it was a horse, they'd shoot it. Or save a bullet and let die soon of natural causes. "

I watched a close friend do it but I knew his day would come. His last customer wanted the repair for free and wanted him to throw in WindowsXP for free. That was the end of his PC repair days.

But my most sage piece of advice is don't build PCs for people for profit. It's almost impossible and you'll be plagued by people wanting you to constantly hold their hand afterwards. Market yourself as a PC troubleshooter/trainer and charge them a hourly fee that reflects your true value. In this field, the profit is in services, not "hardware ".