KVM Switch

[Broadie451]

I would like to buy a good KVM switch, I am using a microsoft wireless keybord and mouse (usb mouse ps2 keyboard) can anybody reccomend a good switch please.

[beso]

Do you really need a KVM?

There are better ways to operate two computers from one console. Network the two computers together and use a VNC conncetion. Virtual Network Computer.

The second computer screen is visible inside a Window on the other. The mouse and keyboard operate the computer in the window when it is active.

There are several free implementations of VNC but UltraVNC is the best. The VNC protocol is supported by versions on most platforms so your Windows machine can connect to Linux for example.

The remote computer runs the server module as a service so it need not even be logged in to connect.

However it may not boot without a keyboard and mouse plugged in. This can usually be overcome by changing settings in the BIOS to continue booting regardless. Otherwise you can plug in an old keyboard and tuck it away out of sight.

[Broadie451]

sorry for the double posting,
I didn't even know this VNC exisited!!!

the setup I have is a desktop PC (home) and a laptop (work), but I can log into work from home but I don't think I will be allowed to use the VNC software on my laptop because of the security team have our laptops locked down pretty tight. I dont want to have 2 keyboards and 2 screens on an already cluttered desktop its hard to work under a mountain of crisp packets and chocolate bar wrappers as it is with out all this extra hardware.

[ChuckFickens]

if your IT dept won't let you install VNC then you can do the same thing using nothing but standard windows components.

on the machine you want to take control of right click on my computer and select properties, click on the remote tab and then put a tick in "allow users to connect remotely to this computer (and make a note of the machine name just below this) and click OK

on the other computer click start > run and type in mstsc and hit enter. when prompted enter the machine name you just noted down and click connect, enter your user name and password for the computer you are connecting to and you should then be greeted by the desktop of the other computer.

[joggerjayne]

"whoosh" !!

[Broadie451]

I must be a real thicko my laptop is running win 2000 and my other PC xppro. I can't get them to connect to each other. I can ping my laptop from my PC and vicea versa but I can't RDP on to it?