Manual keyboard/mouse switch (KVM)?

Question

I have a situation where I need to share one keyboard and mouse between multiple computers, but NOT THE VIDEO!!! It's a home-office trading environment with 4 monitors which all must be monitored simultaneously, so replacing what's displayed on a single monitor isn't useful.

Newer electronic KVM switches are no good because most only have one connector on the box side instead of seperate video/mouse/keyboard inputs, so they don't work at all when the video cable isn't connected.

I need something like the old manual data switches from 10-15 years ago, but ideally with buttons to select which computer is active, instead of a dial to turn. There will be lots of switching throughout the day, and the dial/knob versions seem like a recipe for repetitive wrist injury.

I'd like one with 4 buttons so I can select a system quickly with a single press, rather than cycling through.

Anyone know of a brand/model KVM switch that has 4 distinct buttons like this? Thanks!

Answer 1

I have a KVM attached to my PC without the monitor going through it, as I often use it when working on a laptop on desk at same time, and I simply switch input devices, if NO VIDEO goes throught the KVM it should still work fine as the video is a simple electronically controlled switch.

If you're not sure, check out www.blackbox.co.uk they do a whole stack of KVM switches and the like, so probably have bare KM switches. They're not the cheapest, but if you need a reliable switch (and it sounds like you do) they are good VALUE.

Answer 2

Try using VNC, it allows you to control your computers over the network from any other computer allowed by the security settings:
http://www.realvnc.com/
It doesn't work well for stuff like watching videos but the basic version is free! They also sell a KVM that works over the network, so your monitor connections are open for each computer to also have it's own monitor.