PDA

View Full Version : HowTo: Integrating a new USB PC into a PS/2 KVM setup


metropole
07-29-06, 08:08 AM
I have several PC's connected to single monitor and keyboard/mouse. All my current PC's have PS/2 ports. It looks like that most new PC's such as a Dell e510 only have USB ports.
How can I integrate such PC's while not replacing the switchbox and the existing cables?
I'm using a Belkin SOHO KVM with a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (Cordless Freedom™ Optical).
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=262660#

Would an adaptor on the new PC such as: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=156482 help?
Will the PC boot when the KVM is on an other position? How about the Logitech keyboard and software (encryption)?

Kupakai
07-29-06, 09:20 AM
Doesn't that switchbox already have USB ports on it? I think that's equivalent to the having that adaptor, as in, if you connect the USB port on to the switch to the computer, the mouse and keyboard attached to the PS/2 input port is converted and sent to the USB port of the computer connection. You could just connect a A/B USB cable from the switch to the computer.

On Belkin's description of the switch, it says computers boot normally even if not switched to that port, but if you have trouble booting, you can always turn off the "stop on keyboard error" from the BIOS on most computers.

I have a different Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse (RF model) connected to a USB KVM (IOGear) and the Logitech software works fine.

By the way, how well does the Belkin switch work? I have an IOGear Miniview switch which actually works very well, but it doesn't have audio switch, which would be nice to have.

metropole
07-29-06, 12:30 PM
Maybe you are correct, and the KVM can actually do the conversion.
The Belkin switches are nice, especially the handling of high video resolutions is nice.