[ale] Iogear 8-port KVM switch

[Greg Freemyer]

All,

I finally bought that kvm switch I was considering 6 weeks ago.

I'm very happy with it for my needs.  It has both a manual port
switching capability and a hot-key method.  And the manual method is
direct access, you don't have to step thru all the connected computers
like on some kvm's I've used.  I have not even tried the hotkey
feature, the manual is perfect for me.

The mouse moves from computer to computer flawlessly from my
perspective. (I have a couple versions of Window's Servers and a SUSE
10.1 box hooked up).

One shortcomming that does not effect me is the auto-scan feature.  It
beeps each time it changes screens (every few seconds) and it scans
even unused ports.  I currently only have 4 computers hooked up, but
it scans all 8 ports.

Anyway, I'm very happy with it, but I think the auto-scan is pretty
close to useless with that  annoying beeping going on.

FYI: Fry's sells this unit for about $200, but it comes without
cables.  I bought it from Amazon for slightly les, but it included
cables.  Cables can be a big part of the expense, so I would avoid the
Fry's produnct.

Greg

On 5/26/06, Greg Freemyer <greg.freemyer at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've got a bunch of 4port KVM switches, and several of them don't work very
> well.  Mouse etc. keeps getting out of sync with the Linux computer.
> Fortunately most of my Linux boxes are CLI only, but I like to have the
> option to so a startx and have it work.
>
> Now I need to get an 8-port KVM, and I don't want to spend $1,000+, but it
> only seems smart to find one that actually allows the mouse to work with
> Linux.
>
> Anyone have recommendations for a good, but reasonably priced 8-port KVM
> switch?  (I don't need rack-mount, but it would be nice if I could
> re-purpose it for that latter.)
>
> Iogear has $200 one they claim is Linux compatible.  Also, I'm open to used,
> so maybe e-Bay is the way to go?
>
> http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GCS78KIT&name=8-Port%20KVM%20Switch%20Kit%20,%20PS/2,%20w/KVM%20Cables
>
> Does anyone have Good/Bad things to say about the iogear switch?
>
> Thanks
>  Greg
> --
> Greg Freemyer
> The Norcross Group
> Forensics for the 21st Century


-- 
Greg Freemyer
The Norcross Group
Forensics for the 21st Century