KVM Switches For Your Bench

[allanc]

Does anybody use KVM switches on their bench or separate monitors, keyboards and mice?
This could be useful when cleaning virus, etc.
I was thinking of a 4 port unit.
One problem that I had with a previous 2 port Belkin is that the switch would randomly 'switch' from one computer to the other requiring a power reset of all the connected equipment.

 

[dhrandy]

I use 2 of these. The only problem I have sometimes is that I'm getting more PCs without PS/2 ports. Of course I have extra keyboards and mice for this situation.

They come in real handy.

 

[allanc]

I use 2 of these. The only problem I have sometimes is that I'm getting more PCs without PS/2 ports. Of course I have extra keyboards and mice for this situation.

They come in real handy.

I am not sure of the connectors that were on my Belkin.
But, I seem to remember that I had also had a USB to PS/2 adapter.
How many ports are yours and which brand/model?

 

[seedubya]

I use a Belkin 4 port PS/2 model. It's at least 4 years old. I have a couple of PS/2 to USB adapters for the systems without PS/2 ports. I get the occasional system (either PS/2 or USB) that won't display a picture or won't respond to keyboard and/or mouse and use as standalone k/m/m for these.

 

[angry_geek]

On my bench, I have 3 lcds on swing mounts with 2-port kvms under each of them. I typically use a ps2 to usb adapter if I need to. However, as Seedubya said, I occasionally get the machine that won't play nice with the adapter. I'm getting ready to replace one of the kvms with a usb model.

 

[Doctor Micro]

No pictures, but I use an IOGEAR 8-port MiniView Ultra+ and two 4-port Trendnet 4-port KVMs, all with audio... one is PS/2, the other is USB. Like angry_geek, I have sometimes had problems with PS/2 and USB adapters.

One thing I did learn, though, was that if you have your bench and PCs on a UPS, you need to plug the KVM units into the battery side of the UPS too. Otherwise, you'll either end up with a blank screen and unresponsive keyboard and mouse, or be stuck on whatever machine you were on when the power went out.

 

[allanc]

No pictures, but I use an IOGEAR 8-port MiniView Ultra+ and two 4-port Trendnet 4-port KVMs, all with audio... one is PS/2, the other is USB. Like angry_geek, I have sometimes had problems with PS/2 and USB adapters.

One thing I did learn, though, was that if you have your bench and PCs on a UPS, you need to plug the KVM units into the battery side of the UPS too. Otherwise, you'll either end up with a blank screen and unresponsive keyboard and mouse, or be stuck on whatever machine you were on when the power went out.

Which brand (including Belkin if you have worked with them) do you find the most reliable?
I do not mind spending extra if I will be wasting less time.

 

[angry_geek]

I've had really good luck with trendnet, d-link, and cables unlimited. The ones I have on my bench are trendnet, and they're 4 or 5 years old now. Haven't had any of them fail me. I have a 4-port d-link on some of my servers that is of "indeterminate" age. It's still going strong with no problems at all. I would recommend that you get the models with push buttons or selector switches. They make life a lot easier.

 

[allanc]

I've had really good luck with trendnet, d-link, and cables unlimited. The ones I have on my bench are trendnet, and they're 4 or 5 years old now. Haven't had any of them fail me. I have a 4-port d-link on some of my servers that is of "indeterminate" age. It's still going strong with no problems at all. I would recommend that you get the models with push buttons or selector switches. They make life a lot easier.

The Trendnet TK-407K is about 1/3 of the price of a Belkin F1DS104J.
It seems that the Belkin supports both USB and PS/2 but even the price difference is quite high.

 

[Doctor Micro]

Which brand (including Belkin if you have worked with them) do you find the most reliable?
I do not mind spending extra if I will be wasting less time.

I've not had good long-term reliability with any of the so-called "all in one" units, no matter whether they were IOGEAR or Belkin. These are the ones that already have all the cables permanently attached and have some sort of donut in the middle. That being said, I've yet to have the big IOGEAR unit or the Trendnet units fail. Bear in mind that I also now have all these units on a UPS. YMMV.

The Trendnet units are pretty economical, and come with 6' cables and an AC adapter. The IOGEAR unit ran around $270 if my memory serves me, and the cables were extra. The bonus for the IOGEAR is that you could get cables in either PS/2 terminations or USB, and in different lengths. The IOGEAR also has a programmable OSD and auto-scan feature, which the Trendnet units do not, though all of them are controlled by a Scroll-Lock or Scroll-Lock + Number Key combination in addition to pushbuttons. I know you can "gang" the IOGEAR unit, but I don't know if the Trendnet units support this feature.

 

[angry_geek]

The Trendnet TK-407K is about 1/3 of the price of a Belkin F1DS104J.
It seems that the Belkin supports both USB and PS/2 but even the price difference is quite high.

The trendnets are a lot cheaper. That's what made me go with them years ago. I've been pleased with them. Like I said, I'm getting a usb model for the one tech station. They're only about $40 for the good 2-port model on newegg.

 

[wtigger]

I run an old Apex 8-port unit. I don't see many systems without PS/2 ports currently. I have an old LAN switch right beside it. I got the Apex units on eBay years ago, I use 3 more on my computer racks for my lab systems. The Apex KVM units are good for cascading... No pushbuttons, they use onscreen menu.

The cables were getting to be so insane and tangled on the bench that I found some flexible plastic wire conduit with a split down the middle, I think it was for automotive use (I got it at a yard sale), and I put all the cables for each station into the flexible conduit, leaving the last 14" loose on the computer end. Keeps the bench much less cluttered. When I'm not using the station, I use a long wire tie to hold it up to the overhead shelf off the bench.

I have one 19" LCD monitor on a swing arm to the left side of the work area. I will eventually put a keyboard/mouse tray under the bench that will slide out and keep them off the bench.

Currently I have room for 4 units on the bench at the same time. Everything is on a large UPS... Shelves above the bench hold parts.

 

[scoop818]

I have a 4 port belkin that Ive had for at least 4 years. I also had a trendnet that died on me. I have not had good luck with trendnet products, a switch died on me, as well as the KVM.

I think I may go Angry Geeks route and mount a few more monitors and get a two port usb for those Pcs that dont take PS2

 

[Larry Sabo]

I use a Linksys 4-port unit with PS/2 ports only. Seldom use it anymore because my main PC doesn't have PS/2 ports and the PS/2-USB adapter gets spooky from time to time, especially if something gets turned off or goes into standby.

 

[allanc]

I run an old Apex 8-port unit. I don't see many systems without PS/2 ports currently. I have an old LAN switch right beside it. I got the Apex units on eBay years ago, I use 3 more on my computer racks for my lab systems. The Apex KVM units are good for cascading... No pushbuttons, they use onscreen menu.

The cables were getting to be so insane and tangled on the bench that I found some flexible plastic wire conduit with a split down the middle, I think it was for automotive use (I got it at a yard sale), and I put all the cables for each station into the flexible conduit, leaving the last 14" loose on the computer end. Keeps the bench much less cluttered. When I'm not using the station, I use a long wire tie to hold it up to the overhead shelf off the bench.

I have one 19" LCD monitor on a swing arm to the left side of the work area. I will eventually put a keyboard/mouse tray under the bench that will slide out and keep them off the bench.

Currently I have room for 4 units on the bench at the same time. Everything is on a large UPS... Shelves above the bench hold parts.

We buy that plastic wire conduit at Ikea.

 

[Graystar]

The trendnets are a lot cheaper. That's what made me go with them years ago. I've been pleased with them. Like I said, I'm getting a usb model for the one tech station. They're only about $40 for the good 2-port model on newegg.

I have an issue with this USB KVM which sadly I bought two of...
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=511

The lag time is so bad you cant use them.
So I would stay away from this model.

I have a old Vastech 4 unit KVM that has not failed for the five years I have owned it. (knocking on wood)

I picked up these two USB models at the LA computer fair for moy bench in the shop and i had to disconnect them as they both are too laggy.

 

[Doctor Micro]

One thing of note on older PS/2 KVMs: Many older ones I've seen (and used) had video bandwidth problems. Have a 8-port unit sitting on the shelf in my lab right now that will only support 800x600 reliably. Resolutions higher than that either don't display, or are wonky.

 

[wtigger]

One thing of note on older PS/2 KVMs: Many older ones I've seen (and used) had video bandwidth problems. Have a 8-port unit sitting on the shelf in my lab right now that will only support 800x600 reliably. Resolutions higher than that either don't display, or are wonky.

I think you might need shielded video cables. I have some of the thicker ones that are well shielded, and without them I would get weirdness and ghosting in the display...I use them on each of my systems that use higher resolution and to the monitor from the KVM switch. I run 1024x768 and higher with the Apex units.

 

[andrewrost3241981]

I bought my first one about a month ago. It is a 4-port LinksKey and it is working pretty well for me so far.

 

[Tweak]

IOGear 8 port primarily, tw other areas have 4 port though and have wireless usb with audio 2 port at home for occasional use as well as about 3 others that just sit around now sadly...IOGear seems one of the best, 8 ports though not so cheap compared to the smaller ones obviously.