Spec me a KVM switch

[Craig321]

Hi,

I wouldn't mind getting myself a nice KVM switch as I have a few computers which I'd like to run, but there's no space for another mouse/keyboard/screen.

Could do with 4 switches on it (the ability to connect it up to 4 computers).

USB mouse/keyboard, normal VGA for screen.

I'd also prefer one with all cables included.

Any recommendations?

[Edit]
Rather long shot, but I don't suppose there are any that include ethernet connections? So basically a switch/hub built in? Not a major requirement, but would be good.

[Edit]
My budget is just nothing overly expensive. I'm not sure of the average price of KVM switches so I'm open at the moment.

Thanks,
Craig.

 

[Craig321]

I've had a few, and one of the main issues I had on the cheap ones is sometimes the PC's won't boot if they are not selected, hangs on bios and sometimes with the USB ones can't get into the bios, "However" these are older PC's,

Also the cheaper ones cable management is awful, these are all sub £45,

I'd look in mm or 2nd hand and try and find a used rackmount kvm with leads, should be pretty cheap,

If it helps mines a Belkin omi soho I got from mm, and works a treat, I only run 1024/768

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=149605

Don't forget the cables

My Dad had a similar two port model a while ago I think, but it didn't do what he wanted it to do for some reason. They seem to be quite a good choice for KVM switch, I've seen quite a few recommendations for them.

Problems........
Some slight "streakers" running accross the screen on the windows machine (and the new built that was suckling at port-3), they go away as soon as the GPU gets warmed up (weird eh?). Since the Linux box is unaffected, it must be the el-cheapo OCUK 8600GT in it doing it.

One thing, I have not seen one with ethernet, probably because it would defeat part of the point of the switch.....ie, my windows is downloading 75GB of security flaws, sorry I mean fixes, from MS....so I can switch away to Linux and do other stuff there....if a switched network connection followed the keyboard, you couldn't do that.

I was thinking more of a built in ethernet hub rather than switching the ethernet connection as well (so one main RJ45 in and then the 4 cables from the computers) - but a dedicated cheap switch/hub would probably be best.

I don't like the sound of the switch making the output streaky for the few minutes, that kind of stuff just annoys me . It was only £40 after all

Do the Belkin SOHO KVM switches come with cables?

[Edit]
Found the "Belkin F1DS104T Omniview Soho Series 4-Port KVM Switch, PS/2 & USB" for £70, but still wondering if it comes with cables.

 

[Craig321]

Just been looking at a review of the one I mentioned above, it said something about not being able to control all the computers through a USB mouse/keyboard... or something along those lines?

Can I plug my USB mouse & keyboard into the switch and control all 4 computers from there through the same screen?

Thanks,
Craig.

 

[Craig321]

I've been put off a KVM switch a bit now purely because of the fact that if you buy anything cheapish then you will get problems.

Maybe I should save and get a top of the range 4 port KVM switch