[gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[Peter Humphrey]

Hello list,

I didn't know where else to ask this, or I'd have spared you the annoyance. 
Apologies if needed.

I need to replace a 4-port KVM switch by StarTech, which has failed twice - 
that is, the original failed and its replacement has as well.

Two makes present themselves: Aten and Belkin. Does anyone have an opinion 
on which is better? They seem to have similar abililties and /modi 
operandi/.

Many thanks.

-- 
Regards,
Peter.

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Saturday, 16 September 2017 15:00:16 BST Peter Humphrey wrote:
> Hello list,
> 
> I didn't know where else to ask this, or I'd have spared you the
> annoyance. Apologies if needed.
> 
> I need to replace a 4-port KVM switch by StarTech, which has failed twice
> - that is, the original failed and its replacement has as well.
> 
> Two makes present themselves: Aten and Belkin. Does anyone have an opinion
> on which is better? They seem to have similar abililties and /modi
> operandi/.
> 
> Many thanks.

As always, as soon as I'd sent that I found an answer: someone who'd 
replaced "flaky" Belkin with Aten.

Sorry for the noise.

-- 
Regards,
Peter.

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[Stroller]

> On 16 Sep 2017, at 15:19, Peter Humphrey <peter@prh.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> As always, as soon as I'd sent that I found an answer: someone who'd 
> replaced "flaky" Belkin with Aten.

I think they're probably all based on the same OEM chipsets, anyway. 

I was quite into the KVM-over-IP versions a few years ago, and they certainly all were. I'd find a near identical product (you could especially tell by the web interface) from half a dozen or more manufacturers.

Stroller.

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Peter.

On Sat, Sep 16, 2017 at 15:00:16 +0100, Peter Humphrey wrote:
> Hello list,

> I didn't know where else to ask this, or I'd have spared you the annoyance. 
> Apologies if needed.

> I need to replace a 4-port KVM switch by StarTech, which has failed twice - 
> that is, the original failed and its replacement has as well.

> Two makes present themselves: Aten and Belkin. Does anyone have an opinion 
> on which is better? They seem to have similar abililties and /modi 
> operandi/.

All I can say is that I bought an ATEN KVM box some months ago to help
in installing Gentoo on my new box.  It's V is two DVI connections, and
it also connects up audio.

It has performed flawlessly.  The only slight problem has been the
sluggishness in switching between machines - it takes well over a
second.

I have no experience with Belkin's KVMs.

> Many thanks.

> -- 
> Regards,
> Peter.

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[mad.scientist.at.large]

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actually, there are not kvm chips in existence, kvms are different than eachother.  many barely have a latch/counter chip (hundreds of ways if you're not using a micorcontroller, if you are then millions of ways).  the cheap ones just use a bunch of small field effect transistors. some(like mine, gritting teeth) don't connect the datalines that let the computer know what monitor it is and hence limits the resolution i can set on it.  better kvm units not only connect the data lines on the monitor (i2c is the protocol, electrically at least) but remember and tell any machine that ask what the monitor specs are.  doubtless many use "analog switch" chips to switch things around.  likely any chip in a kvm is a microcontroller with custom code or a full custom chip, and it will likely still need additional chips to function.  then there are the dongles that let you control the computer and see what would be on a display if one were there, they use ip protocols to run all the video etc. over ethernet, usually a seperate network with it's own switch.  if it's cheap, it will be cheaply and poorly made, and likely will come with monitor cables that don't have all the wires they should, and hence don't play well with others (very bad in a kvm).   there is at least one company making very, very expensive KVMs that can work with other types of computers, i.e. the machines used for animation in movies, i.e. not vga, not dvi, not usb, not like on a pc, more like workstations, and some of those are fairly unique in terms of the cables, connectors, and sofware interfaces.

--
The Power Of the People Is Stronger Than The People In Charge.


16. Sep 2017 08:35 by stroller@stellar.eclipse.co.uk:


>> On 16 Sep 2017, at 15:19, Peter Humphrey <>> peter@prh.myzen.co.uk>> > wrote:
>>
>> As always, as soon as I'd sent that I found an answer: someone who'd 
>> replaced "flaky" Belkin with Aten.
>
> I think they're probably all based on the same OEM chipsets, anyway. 
>
> I was quite into the KVM-over-IP versions a few years ago, and they certainly all were. I'd find a near identical product (you could especially tell by the web interface) from half a dozen or more manufacturers.
>
> Stroller.

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Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Choice of KVM?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Saturday, 16 September 2017 15:43:39 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> Hello, Peter.
> 
> On Sat, Sep 16, 2017 at 15:00:16 +0100, Peter Humphrey wrote:
> > Hello list,
> > 
> > I didn't know where else to ask this, or I'd have spared you the
> > annoyance. Apologies if needed.
> > 
> > I need to replace a 4-port KVM switch by StarTech, which has failed
> > twice - that is, the original failed and its replacement has as well.
> > 
> > Two makes present themselves: Aten and Belkin. Does anyone have an
> > opinion on which is better? They seem to have similar abililties and
> > /modi operandi/.
> 
> All I can say is that I bought an ATEN KVM box some months ago to help
> in installing Gentoo on my new box.  It's V is two DVI connections, and
> it also connects up audio.
> 
> It has performed flawlessly.  The only slight problem has been the
> sluggishness in switching between machines - it takes well over a
> second.
> 
> I have no experience with Belkin's KVMs.

Well, thank you all. I didn't expect anyone to answer.

-- 
Regards,
Peter.