VOGONS


First post, by bestemor

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Ok, so this may not be old hardware per se, but the hardware that will be connected is...

I want a 4-port(4 PCs) USB switch for at least 2 separate USB 2.0 or 3.x peripherals (Keyboard/Mouse or whatever else works on USB).
Been trawling amazon listings and reading 'reviews', but it is really hard to find a 'good' one it seems.

Ideally I'd want 4 separate physical buttons, to directly choose a specific computer (or a lax aimed remote). Some switches have this.

But, I also would really like to have some sort of 'emulation', like on the PS2 KVMs, which keeps the connection alive or whatever, while I am 'away' and using another computer.

Most switches I have found seem to be just 'dumb' mechanical switches, and it basically works identical to just constantly swapping the cables from one computer to another, with the inevitable 10 seconds(?) re-activation(or whatever it is called) etc every single time. 😐

- So, anyone used such a switch they are happy with ? What model was it ?

Examples of what I mean:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093K5HB6P/
https://www.amazon.com/Rybozen-Selector-Perip … /dp/B09BTSH2HW/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZK36RBJ/

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Reply 1 of 17, by cyclone3d

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For USB this is going to be a somewhat more difficult item to come by if one is even made.

The reason is that if you have some sort of keep-alive setup, it is going to have to specifically support the devices that are being used with it.

Modern gaming keyboards and mice that have microcontrollers in them would definitely not work.

There is a solution called Synergy that works over the network. The OSes being used on the different computers are going to have to be supported though.
https://symless.com/synergy

For Windows, it looks like you have to have at least 8.1
https://symless.com/help-articles/operating-s … rted-by-synergy

Edit: I spoke too soon. What you want is a DDM KVM. Just only use the USB ports and you should be golden.

Somebody on Reddit says this iOGear 4-port has quick switching but it isn't listed in the specs - it is around $75:
https://www.iogear.com/product/GCS634U/

The Startech branded ones are going to be in the $250+ range.

I've used a few different Startech KVMs and they work great though I don't remember if they have quick switching or not. I guess it would be easy enough for me to test them out. I have one that does DVI and one that does Displayport.

Last edited by cyclone3d on 2021-10-07, 18:49. Edited 2 times in total.

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Reply 2 of 17, by Namrok

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I gave up trying to find good USB/HDMI/Display port KVMs. All the handshaking those protocols have to do just make a good KVM impossible to find. And even if it "works" the experience is not what you were expecting.

No matter what the PC, I try to just stick with a PS/2, VGA and 3.5mm audio jack KVM. Although those are getting hard to find. I know it's not what you asked for, but I've enjoyed my Trendnet TK-208k unit. It's been discontinued though.

If you do find a good USB KVM, I'd love to know too. But I just don't think they exist.

Win95/DOS 7.1 - P233 MMX (@2.5 x 100 FSB), Diamond Viper V330 AGP, SB16 CT2800
Win98 - K6-2+ 500, GF2 MX, SB AWE 64 CT4500, SBLive CT4780
Win98 - Pentium III 1000, GF2 GTS, SBLive CT4760
WinXP - Athlon 64 3200+, GF 7800 GS, Audigy 2 ZS

Reply 3 of 17, by bestemor

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umm... DDM.....🤨 ?

Heh, had to look that one up..... Seems like that might work fine, yes indeed!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_device_mapping

But boy those KVMs look costly, at least the few models I randomly just found.

Reply 4 of 17, by SScorpio

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For over a year and a half I've been using one of those "dumb" USB switches and it works fine. I'm not getting anywhere near 10 seconds for the switch to occur, it seems to take 1-2 seconds for the inputs to switch. The only downside is hearing the disconnect and reconnect USB sounds. If I'm switching monitor inputs, going into the OSD and changing the input takes longer than the USB switching.

Since you aren't asking for video switching are you looking to have several systems running each with their own displays? If so maybe Star Dock's Multiplicity could meet your need. It's software the requires one computer to be the "server". But you move the mouse off the edge of one machine and it magically starts sending control to another computer than controls a different display.

https://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

Reply 5 of 17, by cyclone3d

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Stardock Multiplicity looks a lot like Synergy... but it does support Windows 7 unlike Synergy.

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Aopen AW744L II SB-LINK

Reply 6 of 17, by bestemor

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I haven't made any final descion vs monitors, but... I have various options for switching video sources using just one (it has VGA DVI HDMI and DP switchable via OSD), + I could use add a HDMI switch on there, if it does not degrade the signal too much. (HDMI will have to be via DVI adapter)

Intended boxes goes from Win98 via WinXp up to Win7. Hence I figured a 'kept-alive' connection/KM would be preferrable for keyboard and mouse switching.
As for the dumb swithces, I have my purchase trigger activated for getting one to test, but have not figured out what would be the best model quite yet...
As I will have to import this thing, I'd prefer to get it right the first time.

Reply 7 of 17, by SScorpio

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I can't comment on best, but I've been using this one and its cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Selector-Comput … /dp/B01MXXQKGM/

They should all work the same. One's with remotes will be more expensive.

Reply 8 of 17, by Yoghoo

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I am using this one: https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/gp/product/B088TN7XYJ

Only for 2 PC's but it has 4 ports (USB3.0). Works great also with older PC's which only got USB 1.1 or 2.0.

Reply 9 of 17, by cyclone3d

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SScorpio wrote on 2021-10-07, 19:33:

I can't comment on best, but I've been using this one and its cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Selector-Comput … /dp/B01MXXQKGM/

They should all work the same. One's with remotes will be more expensive.

That was a helpful link though the USB switch doesn't say whether or not it is delay free for USB devices...

There was a link on that page to a UGREEN KVM that does specifically say that it is USB delay-free and it is only $45...
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Out-HDMI-KVM-Sw … =dp_ob_title_ce

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Reply 10 of 17, by SScorpio

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cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-07, 19:45:

That was a helpful link though the USB switch doesn't say whether or not it is delay free for USB devices...

There was a link on that page to a UGREEN KVM that does specifically say that it is USB delay-free and it is only $45...
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Out-HDMI-KVM-Sw … =dp_ob_title_ce

The switch doesn't do any emulation, but seems to take 1-2 seconds to switch. The USB device does drop and get re-inserted so it might not be the best for Win98, but XP and up works great.

Even fast monitors take longer to resync input than the switch does to change inputs.

Reply 12 of 17, by SScorpio

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bestemor wrote on 2021-10-07, 20:41:

Yes indeed, I have a feeling that Windows98 would not take all that reconnecting without protesting.... 😅

Just pretend you're Bill Gates giving the world its first look at Windows 98.

Reply 13 of 17, by LSS10999

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Actually a dumb USB switch (that simply acts as a switchable hub) should work fine with gaming keyboards as long as necessary Legacy USB support is in place for all PCs connected to it. Some basic KVMs that don't offer special features should also do. Still, you'll need one with good quality parts and preferrably with external power input, to make sure the connection is stable enough that the devices would not randomly drop out.

Personally I suggest avoid "advanced" USB KM/KVMs that come with hotkey support, as these KM/KVMs handle the devices directly then expose themselves as standard keyboard/mouse to the connected system. As such, gaming keyboard/mice will not work correctly with them. Even if they do, you lose access to the device's special features, as the connected systems would not know the hardware directly to activate the right drivers.

EDIT: For zero-delay switching, USB KM/KVMs that come with hotkey support are a good hint. Just that HID-based gaming keyboards that require special drivers may not work correctly with them.

Last edited by LSS10999 on 2021-10-08, 04:20. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 15 of 17, by LSS10999

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cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-08, 01:21:

Isn't that what I was saying?

I currently use a USB KVM that doesn't do any special handling of devices, and it works fine with my gaming keyboard and mouse (both Corsair). Switching works in all systems and all OSes, just that when switching there would be a delay of a few seconds as it "attaches" the devices to the new destination.

I'm not sure if this "keep-alive" thing you said is the same as what I just wrote, that some USB KM/KVMs expose themselves rather than connected devices to the systems. That only works with standard keyboards/mice like you said, but switching in this case incurs zero delay as there's no attach/remove involved in the connected systems.

If video output is not needed (or prefer switching videos independently), the USB peripheral switch OP posted should be sufficient. I think with enough external power supply provided such switch could even handle high capacity USB drives.

EDIT: Looks like those advanced KVMs are what OP expects, to avoid the delay incurred due to attaching/removing.

Last edited by LSS10999 on 2021-10-08, 03:38. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 16 of 17, by cyclone3d

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OP wants a no delay setup though. That requires a DDM capable switch or KVM.

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Reply 17 of 17, by LSS10999

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cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-08, 03:35:

OP wants a no delay setup though. That requires a DDM capable switch or KVM.

Yeah, sorry I didn't read that thoroughly.

I also have a PS/2-USB mixed KVM that does what OP expects, exposing standard PS/2 or USB input to connected systems with no delays in switching.

While it certainly won't work with HID-based gaming keyboards for obvious reasons, that KVM works with standard 2.4G wireless USB mouse and even allows me to use it over PS/2.

It looks similar to these ATEN products, but ATEN products can be significantly more expensive than others.

EDIT: If a USB KVM supports switching via hotkeys then there's a good chance it'll support zero-delay switching (emulation) as the KVM itself needs to handle the input device in order to process the hotkeys. Just be sure to plug the keyboard/mouse to dedicated ports to actually make use of it.