2 PC's one Monitor 1

[FlashTag]

Can I get 2 PC's to work with monitor ?
I have a small work area.

 

[edfair]

Because of potential problems with the data transfer switches I would suggest a KVM switch. Allows keyboard, video, and mouse to be shared. I use multiple 4 port boxes and have several customers with 2 port boxes.
The data transfer boxes eventually get failing contacts and you get garbage screens.
Two that I remember are Cybex and Raritan, I buy Cybex out of Global Computer supply but this isn't an endorsement. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[garwain]

I have a good KVM (D-Link if I remember correctly but I could be wrong.. it's at home and I'm at work) I can press CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+1/2/3/4 to switch between my computers or press the button on the box.

This switch can also be set to scan between the computer so that it displays on desktop for a few seconds then switches to the next. (I used another of the same model in a server room at a college I used to be network administrator at. and it worked great for monitoring several servers. I could watch 12 servers off of 3 screens.

Let me know if you are interested and I'll look up for sure the make and model. This switch wasn't very expensive either.

 

[FatesWebb]

all these people are correct and also I would also like to mention you can just unply the monitor and plug it into another computer, boring but effective. and the switchboxs are nice... you can also switch your keyboards on most computers. usb mice work too... but that is pretty goofy at work...

 

[garwain]

I would disagree with switching keyboards. Every windows machine that I have unpluged the keyboard on has completely locked up

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

May be it would be put this way... if you are lazy like most IT people (and I assume you are by asking the question) you use a KVM switch. If you want to switch and potentially damage plugs, go manual switching. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer


Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.

 

[FlashTag]

I am not Lazy I just have limited space and budget
When I am working on one pc mostly loading software
I like to get more work done on the other.

 

[FatesWebb]

well, you can disagree .... but I have done this many many times and it seems to me that a SMALL percentage lock up... so I happen to know it works on a lot of machines anyways, and it doesnt matter what version of windows... if it works on the machine it works. I have deployeed hundreds of machines on rollouts using this and stacking 4 machines up with 1 keyboard and 1 monitor. so it works on most computers.. I have seen some it doesnt

 

[edfair]

But switching I/O between machines eventually leads to contact failure. Contacts are generally rated for limited insertions. For instance D connectors are usually 250. Not saying you can't get more but the cost of KVM is less than a M/B upgrade if you wipe your main machine out.
Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.