Bluetooth + Linux + KVM questions

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 15:34

I've just started the second year of my Computer Science course. I'm interested in setting up a cheap Linux box so I can run Fedora and Ubuntu without worrying about borking up my Windows PC. I like Linux and I want to spend some time playing with it.

I've also got a Slack Live CD to use for a module so I'd rather use a Linux box for that.

My question is if I got a KVM switch to let me control both PCs with one keyboard, monitor and mouse can I use a bluetooth dongle with a KVM? I ask because although I'm using an MS wired keyboard I want to use the Apple wireless keyboard I have. I haven't had much luck with the dongles I've bought so far which is why I'm not using it now.

So would I have to have two Bluetooth dongles, one for each PC and switch the wireless keyboard between each when I booted up the Linux box. Will a KVM switch work if I only have a mouse and monitor plugged in? Just realised my mouse is also a wireless one with a USB receiver. Are there KVM switches that can run USB hardware?

M0KUJ1N · 1 Oct 2006 at 16:31

I dont think running bluetooth devices via a KVM is feasible, due to limitations in the KVM circuitry, drivers and of course configuration via the OS. You can get USB-specific KVMs, although I used one of these with a Mac wired keyboard a while back and had all sorts of problems with special characters such as \ / and # being recognised, probably because of Apple's pseudo-US layout.

So imo, the idea sounds like a bit of a non-starter but you may have more success with standard wireless USB dongles, esp if each device has it's own dongle

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 16:34

So I'd have to have a Bluetooth dongle for my Windows PC and one for the Linux box? That's fine. I don't mind that.

Could I just use a KVM for the monitor? And have a Bluetooth dongle on each PC for the keyboard and perhaps get a cheap MS Optical wired mouse for the Linux box?

M0KUJ1N · 1 Oct 2006 at 16:46

MarcLister said:
So I'd have to have a Bluetooth dongle for my Windows PC and one for the Linux box? That's fine. I don't mind that.

You could do that, although you would have to pair/ unpair the machines whenever you switched over.

Could I just use a KVM for the monitor? And have a Bluetooth dongle on each PC for the keyboard and perhaps get a cheap MS Optical wired mouse for the Linux box?

Possibly, although a lot of KVMs rely on current from the USB/PS2 connections to power them. Also you wouldnt be able to take advantage of using keyboard shortcuts to switch. Another possibility (depending on your system spec) would be running linux in a VM with VMware player, thus negating the need to implement a messy compromise setup with a KVM?

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 16:53

M0KUJ1N said:
YAnother possibility (depending on your system spec) would be running linux in a VM with VMware player, thus negating the need to implement a messy compromise setup with a KVM?

Hmm sounds like a good option. Could use that with nLite to test my installs before I use them. How much is VMware player and who makes it?

M0KUJ1N · 1 Oct 2006 at 17:34

VMware player is free but only allows you to run pre-built virtual machines (which are readily downloadable). You would need VMware workstation in order to create a VMware virtual machine from scratch, and that isn't free- about $189 according to their website although Im sure at work we purchased an academic licence for it at a lot less than that (about £50 if memory serves)

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 17:37

M0KUJ1N said:
VMware player is free but only allows you to run pre-built virtual machines (which are readily downloadable). You would need VMware workstation in order to create a VMware virtual machine from scratch, and that isn't free- about $189 according to their website although Im sure at work we purchased an academic licence for it at a lot less than that (about £50 if memory serves)

So I guess I'll need VMware workstation then? Is that because I'll need to create a VMware virtual machine then?

Una · 1 Oct 2006 at 17:41

No get vmware server, that is also free and lets you create a virtual machine. (Xen is the best vm system out there at the moment, but is a bit of a bitch to setup).

You can also use qemu to create a vm then import it to vmware.

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 19:08

Una said:
No get vmware server, that is also free and lets you create a virtual machine. (Xen is the best vm system out there at the moment, but is a bit of a bitch to setup).

You can also use qemu to create a vm then import it to vmware.

Cheers Una. Sorry for not replying earlier I didn't get an email notification. Any idea how fast/slow Linux would run if I ran it through a virtual machine?

I'd still prefer to setup my own Linux box and use the wired keyboard for that and then buy a cheap wired mouse. I'd then use a KVM for just the monitor but perhaps that won't work?

Una · 1 Oct 2006 at 19:25

Well it depends on your machine a bit, but in software virtualisation its slightly slower than native (obviously you can't do any cpu/ram tasks as well). If you have duel core, multiprocessors or a cpu which has hardware virtualisation instructions this speed will increase significantly. I tend to use them for a "sandbox" enviroment or to test networking stuff (very easy to rollback to a snapshot). All depends on what you plan doing with them.

No idea about KVM switches sorry.

MarcLister · 1 Oct 2006 at 19:28

Una said:
Well it depends on your machine a bit, but in software virtualisation its slightly slower than native (obviously you can't do any cpu/ram tasks as well). If you have duel core, multiprocessors or a cpu which has hardware virtualisation instructions this speed will increase significantly. I tend to use them for a "sandbox" enviroment or to test networking stuff (very easy to rollback to a snapshot). All depends on what you plan doing with them.

No idea about KVM switches sorry.

Hmm I don't want to be running Linux and know it is running slower because it is running through a virtual machine. I'll do some research on the KVM and see if I can just use the video socket.