Kvm

[rt]

Having bought a second computer, I am, of course, anxious to network them together. Obviously it will be easier if, other than buying an extra monitor, keyboard and mouse, I can switch between looking at one computer to the other to alter IP address settings etc.

The new computer has DVI output to the monitor while the old one only VGA.

Question 1: Am I likely to do any damage to monitor, graphics cards or computers if I were to (accidentally) have both computers plugged into the monitor (one DVI, one VGA) and booted them both?

Question 2: Naturally, I could just use the VGA output from the new computer for setting up purposes but - is there a KVM switch which can share the monitor between the two computers, one VGA output, the other DVI (in the home-user price range)? Not had much success searching the net for the answer to this.

Question 3: Will a KVM switch that works with Windows machines necessarily work with Linux machines?

Thanks for any information on these issues.

 

[donkey42]

Having bought a second computer, I am, of course, anxious to network them together. Obviously it will be easier if, other than buying an extra monitor, keyboard and mouse, I can switch between looking at one computer to the other to alter IP address settings etc.

yeah ther's loads, check here

Question 1: Am I likely to do any damage to monitor, graphics cards or computers if I were to (accidentally) have both computers plugged into the monitor (one DVI, one VGA) and booted them both?

no, just use a DVI to VGA adaptor, like here

Question 2: Naturally, I could just use the VGA output from the new computer for setting up purposes but - is there a KVM switch which can share the monitor between the two computers, one VGA output, the other DVI (in the home-user price range)? Not had much success searching the net for the answer to this.

not if you use an adaptor

Question 3: Will a KVM switch that works with Windows machines necessarily work with Linux machines?

yes, in linux you may need drivers or it may just work, it's more probable that it will just work

 

[Matt555]

I thought KVM's were completely hardware based and it just switched between the 2 machines. I don't know of any software-based ones (although there may be some out there I'm not too sure)

If it's just hardware based (as in a box with the connections on there) it should work with anything as it's just switching the input/output between machines through the KVM switch itself and not through any software on the computer.

 

[rt]

Thanks for the info donkey42.

So I need the DVI to VGA converter to create a DVI connection for my old computer (I'm slightly confused by DVI to VGA converter, when I actually want to go from VGA to DVI) and presumably a DVI KVM switch like here?

Matt555 – I think the Linux/Windows concern is that it it should be possible to change the computer connected to the monitor etc by a keyboard combination.

 

[Big B]

Yes and no. If you don't have DVI on your video card, you will gain no benefit by obtaining a VGA into DVI coverter. Every retail video card I've seen with DVI has at least one DVI into VGA converter bundled with the card.

If using a KVM switch was dangerous, I'd have killed quite a number of PCs. And as stated above, they are hardware based. Some may be used over a network, but you don't need one depending on what security measures you put in place.

The OS has nothing to do with the keyboard combination for switching, again, because this is a hardware function. The keystrokes go through the KVM first, so it'd be silly to require software to do it as that would add additional, unnecessary steps to the process.

 

[rt]

Yes and no. If you don't have DVI on your video card, you will gain no benefit by obtaining a VGA into DVI coverter. Every retail video card I've seen with DVI has at least one DVI into VGA converter bundled with the card.

The new computer video card has both DVI and VGA output terminals; the old computer has only VGA output. The monitor has both a DVI input and a VGA input.

 

[donkey42]

So I need the DVI to VGA converter to create a DVI connection for my old computer (I'm slightly confused by DVI to VGA converter)

i think it'd be cheaper to get a DVI to VGA convertor, and use a more traditional KVM (with 15 pin D type connectors) rather than converting your older VGA to DVI, and using a DVI KVM

I think the Linux/Windows concern is that it it should be possible to change the computer connected to the monitor etc by a keyboard combination.

yep, but after reading B post, i now understand how they work

The OS has nothing to do with the keyboard combination for switching, again, because this is a hardware function. The keystrokes go through the KVM first, so it'd be silly to require software to do it as that would add additional, unnecessary steps to the process.

i didn't actually didn't know how they worked, but i do now, thanks B,

P.S. i never actually used a KVM

 

[rt]

i think it'd be cheaper to get a DVI to VGA convertor, and use a more traditional KVM (with 15 pin D type connectors) rather than converting your older VGA to DVI, and using a DVI KVM

Except I'm now thinking it might be useful beyond setting up a network and not needing to have both running at the same time - maybe use the old computer for text/audio IM/Skype and general Internet searching at which it is perfectly capable and the new one for more advanced tasks.

 

[Big B]

DVI has nothing to do with that. The system will function the same with VGA or DVI. See what the cost of a DVI KVM and cabling will require vs a VGA setup. Go with whatever is cheaper.

Now, don't think that a KVM is going to replace a router/switch and networking.

 

[rt]

DVI has nothing to do with that. The system will function the same with VGA or DVI. See what the cost of a DVI KVM and cabling will require vs a VGA setup. Go with whatever is cheaper.

But shouldn't one get a clearer screen with DVI - isn't that the idea of DVI rather than VGA?

The DVI KVM switch seems to be "only" about £15 - £20 dearer than a VGA KVM switch and would be more future proof, I would think.

Now, don't think that a KVM is going to replace a router/switch and networking.

No, I'm not expecting to be able to set up file sharing, run one machine from the other, run applications on one machine from a command on the other or get an Internet connection on both just by using a KVM switch.

 

[Big B]

The clarity depends on the monitor. Some don't show any difference at all, so I'd compare, especially if you have both DVI and VGA cables handy. DVI may not necessarily be the future. HDMI may very well take over, given the content protection. VGA isn't going to go away for quite some time, as CRT's are still widely available and don't have optimized resolutions like LCD's do.

VGA will not inhibit the use of a KVM switch in your plans.

 

[rt]

Tried connecting my new computer to the monitor via VGA. Initial problems - horizontal position, a sort of moiré effect and character sharpness which, except the moiré effect, occur using VGA connection with my old computer – solved with a couple of pushes of the “Auto” adjust button, I cannot say that I can detect any difference in the monitor clarity between VGA and DVI connection. Hence I've put in an eBay bid for a Intellinet VGA KVM Switch which also supports audio.

Someone is offering the Rextron DNV102 DVI switch at £35 possibly with the cables included. I doubt this will include the VGA-to-DVI adaptor though – the only ones I can find are as 0.2m connectors at about £10 each.

It seems a bit strange that manufacturers are behind with this – really the only SOHO DVI switch is the Rextron while there must be demand for DVI /DVI switches and DVI/VGA switches.

 

[flowda]

Hi. I am very familiar with your problem, because in addition to the two computers I also have a laptop and recently I was faced with the task of connecting all this equipment into one system, which would work from one keyboard and mouse. I thought for a long time about the solution and in the end decided to use TESmart KVM and it was a great solution because with this hardware I was able to connect my mouse and keyboard to all devices at once without any problem.