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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.