A couple weeks ago asked about terminal concentrators for sunblade
100/150. It seems they don't want to go this route and would rather use
a kvm switch. Does anyone know of a cheap brand for use with 4-8
systems? This would be for use with USB keyboard/mouse and without any
SUN keyboard issues.

Thanks,
Wayne

Hi,

Wayne Rasmussen wrote:
> A couple weeks ago asked about terminal concentrators for sunblade
> 100/150. It seems they don't want to go this route and would rather use
> a kvm switch. Does anyone know of a cheap brand for use with 4-8
> systems? This would be for use with USB keyboard/mouse and without any
> SUN keyboard issues.
>
> Thanks,
> Wayne
>
FWIW, there are no cheap brand KWM switches. Convince them to get a
terminal server or a Sun/PC with a serial port mux like one from Digi
they are much cheaper and works perfect.


/michael

I have just bought a cheap 4 port Belkin USB/VGA/audio KVM switch,
F1DS104U, which on the box says it handles "PC (USB), Mac (USB), Sun
(USB)".

It switches video, keyboard, mouse, as well as audio in/out. It also
contains a two port USB hub, which is also switched between the
systems.

After connecting it between a Sun Ray, a Sun Type 6 keyboard, Sun
mouse, Sun 18" flat screen monitor I immediately found out that it
doesn't handle the Sun specific keys on the keyboard :-(

I called Belkin support today, and they are aware of the problem, but
will likely not fix the firmware. The firmware is field upgradeable,
the needed cable is even included. They do have a solution which is
good enough for me, and that is to connect the keyboard to the
switched hub instead of to the keyboard port. Using the hub you can
connect any USB device, and the KVM will not mangle the data. The
disadvantage is that the switch can no longer be operated from the
keyboard. This is OK for me as I have it next to the screen, and it
has four buttons on the front panel for switching.

The unit comes with a 9V wall wart, and the instruction booklet says
it needs it, although it appears to operate just fine on USB power
from the attached systems.

I have an old M$ PC on one port, the Sun Ray on one, the on board VGA
of the PC running nevada on one, and one spare, and it appears to work
fine, although I have ordered new cables today as there is some
ghosting, most likely due so inferior cables. The KVM is speced at
400MHz video BW.

Had I knew that the keyboard port wasn't working properly with
anything but a standard PC keyboard, I would have checked around,
hoping to find a KVM that works properly. I read some good reviews on
it though, and the fact that it specifically mentions both Sun systems
and Sun operating systems made me buy this one.

I hope someone from Belkin reads this: Please fix the firmware so that
the keyboard port can be used with extended keyboards!