question for the propeller heads - kvm not working well

[gravitas]

I've recently bought a iogear KVM switch ( GCS632U ) and I'm less then impressed. At least a couple of times a day the keyboard seems to lock up and I have to reboot both PC's. Is this something that's a chronic problem with KVM switches or is this model just a piece of shit?

They make a few other versions and am interested in the GCS1772 and think it may be less flaky.

Anything?

 

[shuffle]

I use KVMs all the time. Never have lock up problems.
I do however avoid the USB ones. I like PS2 ports as I seem to have less problems. I also refuse to buy one that doesn't let me switch by keyboard shortcut. The buttons always seem to wear out on me otherwise.

Can't comment on the IO Gear other than to say keyboard locking is not acceptable.

 

[sdw]

I've recently bought a iogear KVM switch ( GCS632U ) and I'm less then impressed. At least a couple of times a day the keyboard seems to lock up and I have to reboot both PC's. Is this something that's a chronic problem with KVM switches or is this model just a piece of shit?

They make a few other versions and am interested in the GCS1772 and think it may be less flaky.

Anything?

I've always used KVM switches that use PS2 Keyboards and Mice. I also use PS2 Keyboards and Mice on all of my desktops. USB support in most OSs can be lost when another USB device is added or removed and this leads to the keyboard lock you are suffering. There are some fixes on the Microsoft Knowledge Base sites for various USB problems. http://support.microsoft.com/winxp go to search knowledge base

 

[gravitas]

well that was quick....thanks

but a few questions

I do however avoid the USB ones

Thats a problem for me. I have a keyboard that I'm quite fond of. Can I get a USB to ps/2 adapter and will it work?

I also refuse to buy one that doesn't let me switch by keyboard shortcut. The buttons always seem to wear out on me otherwise.

Maybe I'm out to lunch but would have thought the ones with a manual switch would be less likely to cause problems.

Can't comment on the IO Gear

Any suggestions for other brands? Only need to switch between two PC's but if there's a larger capacity version that works I'd be game.

There are some fixes on the Microsoft Knowledge Base sites for various USB problems. http://support.microsoft.com/winxp go to search knowledge base

thanks as well.....it would be so much fucking nicer if this fucking shit actually fucking worked without having to dink around with fucking patches and fucking fixes

 

[vancouverman]

as for what is on the market .... 100s of different models

check: http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/ just to have an idea

I like APC and Avocent, and use them a lot in a server configurations, which.. as you can guess, I do not like to reboot because my KB died on me.

 

[gravitas]

thanks again for the input but I thinks I may have solved me problem

the notebook was setup to kill the display (while on AC power) after 15 min of inactivity, switched it to stay on all the time (its not my PC so who the fuck gives a rats rectum) and seems to have done the trick

 

[Randy Whorewald]

Good to hear things are ok now Gravi, but I just want to let you know I have been using Apex Outlook units for some time without a hitch. Of course these are for PS/2 type plugs. Here's what they look like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1x8-APEX-OUTLOO...881307060QQcategoryZ45341QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This model handles 8 pc's and all you do is press a hot key combination to switch between computers.

 

[MissingOne]

do without a kvm switch

If you want to use the same keyboard and mouse on two computers that are networked together anyway, you can do it without the kvm switch. There are several little pieces of software out there that will allow you to do it.

I've been using a bit of software called Multiplicity for some months now without problems. It allows me to just move the mouse pointer seamlessly from one screen to the other. The keyboard works on whichever computer the mouse pointer is on. No switches or key codes to worry about.

It took a bit of fiddling with the firewalls on both computers to get it working right, but it's been good ever since I got that figured out.

Of course, if the computers aren't networked it's no use.

Propellerhead huh? Someone called me anal the other day. Damn those props hurt when I stick my head up my arse!

 

[gravitas]

Apex Outlook units for some time without a hitch

Cool and thanks! I guess what pisses me off about this sort of thing is that I think they should ALL work without a hitch. I realize that the "brains" behind a KVM are more complex then the simple old parallel switch box but for christ sakes why does this sort of stuff cause so much grief? In this example its more then just having the pain in the arse to reboot to get a keyboard to unlock but all the other crap. I run a VoIP client on my work PC and its just not acceptable to have your computer crap out in the middle of a call. Then there's the cable/wire rats nest that all this shit creates. MissingOne, if you think you're anal retentive we'll have to compare notes. I am down right OC about a few things.....tools and kitchen keep operating room clean and orderly and messy wires & cables. I just spent 4 hours last weekend re-doing all the cabling in my home office. Went through about 75 of those little velcro wraps ( nice and cheap, no need for the fancy Case Logic ones under your desk ), a swak of cable ties & mounts and meters of cable wrap and ducting. There's no excess cable visible on top, under or around my desk or any other furniture.....it makes me very happy After all that the last thing I want to do is rip it all apart because some stinking device decides to act like a bitch and not work properly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1x8-APEX-OUTLOO...881307060QQcategoryZ45341QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Got to love the guys ebay listing....some highlights
Hey! Before you bid, better read these terms. If you don't like 'em, don't bid!.......We will only take crap back if we guaranteed it against D.O.A......If we can't replace it, we will give your money back to you! Alright?.....If you smash it or break it 'cause you're drunk or stoned, we ain't replacing it!.....Don't email us asking if we take coupons, iou's, stamps, food or peanuts. Beer we might consider but only on certain occasions.....We don't have the time or patience to ship by boat, horse, donkey, or any other slow method
I may have to plagiarize the next time I list something.

This model handles 8 pc's and all you do is press a hot key combination to switch between computers.

Looks cool (and the price is right) and if I ever need to manage more then 2 PC's I'd consider it but one of the reasons I like the iogear unit I bought is it could be placed out of sight.

If you want to use the same keyboard and mouse on two computers that are networked together anyway, you can do it without the kvm switch.

Don't think that would work with how I have things set up at home. When I'm VPN'd on my work laptop its on a different subnet and don't think the software you've got in mind would work......but what do I know.

Propellerhead huh?

It was said with respect

 

[vancouverman]

Got to love the guys ebay listing....some highlights
Hey! Before you bid, better read these terms. If you don't like 'em, don't bid!.......We will only take crap back if we guaranteed it against D.O.A......If we can't replace it, we will give your money back to you! Alright?.....If you smash it or break it 'cause you're drunk or stoned, we ain't replacing it!.....Don't email us asking if we take coupons, iou's, stamps, food or peanuts. Beer we might consider but only on certain occasions.....We don't have the time or patience to ship by boat, horse, donkey, or any other slow method
I may have to plagiarize the next time I list something.

good one ... I might add it to my listings

 

[Randy Whorewald]

Gravi - Re I Ain't your pop's ebay stuff. I have bought stuff from this guy before, he's a straight shooter. The plain language is used in place of a lot of legal jargon and most people should have no trouble understanding it. Another good thing - he's in Canada so you don't get sæÊî‰ed on duties and excessive shipping fees.

 

[gravitas]

After taking a page from Frank Constanza's "serenity now" approach to life I yanked out the original piece of shit kvm switch and replaced it with a spanky new model that seems to be a little more robust.

 

[hitrack]

It's happened to me plenty-0-times, but the only thing I hate about having my cables all AJ Squared Away like some kinda Jar Head Robot is when something fukks up and you gotta undo all that creation to get the failed unit out.

 

[gravitas]

is when something fukks up and you gotta undo all that creation to get the failed unit out.

I hear ya brother!

I used to cable tie everything together and while it made for tidy cable packages its a fucking pain in the arse to undo anything (esp when you've got your head under the desk, behind a filing cabinet, etc). Staples sells these velcro fuckers and IMO they kick ass!

They're cheap, hold well enough to keep everything together but not as firm as real velcro and if you need to add or remove a cable from the bundle there's no cable ties to cut.

 

[maverick73]

I hear ya brother!

I used to cable tie everything together and while it made for tidy cable packages its a fucking pain in the arse to undo anything (esp when you've got your head under the desk, behind a filing cabinet, etc). Staples sells these velcro fuckers and IMO they kick ass!

They're cheap, hold well enough to keep everything together but not as firm as real velcro and if you need to add or remove a cable from the bundle there's no cable ties to cut.

Holy sh$t! It's a f$cking velcro party! I just got some of those too! I got the 50 value pack from Home Depot... 25 grey, 25 black... grey comes in handy for grey/white cables, black for black and dark cables... I used to zip tie everything as well... looks awesome, but when something changes... it's undo them all and zip tie them all again!

It's like girls having a tea party except it's Hitrack, Gravitas and Mav having a velcro tie party! lol

 

[vancouverman]

I used to zip tie everything as well...

yeh ... right ....