9111520 and USB keyboard

[tekinept]

First part here is to let everyone know, the new p5 systems that use USB instead of PS/2 ports has a problem.
You CANNOT use any usb keyboard or mouse on these systems, you have to have either a special IBM keyboard and mouse, or an IBM switch.
I have been told that generic kybd/mse will work with Linux, but not with AIX or SMS.
Question:
Has anyone tried to get this to work? Did you succeed, and with what. I wanted to try to use a powered KVM switch, but I don't seem to have a USB powered KVM.

 

[gilsont]

[TT]

We have two p615 servers in a rack with a PS2 style KVM and fold up TFT screen. All very nice.

Now we are ordering a p520 for the same rack and want to plug it into the same KVM and use the same TFT as the p615's. OK - the TFT screen will plug into the monitor port on the KVM and the graphics card on the p520, but the p520, like you say, only has USB keyboard and mouse connectors. What we have done is use a USB to PS/2 converter cable to allow a regular PS/2 style keyboard and mouse to connect to the p520. This mean we can still use our PS/2 KVM switch and TFT screen. Hooray !

There are lots of these PS/2 to USB converter cables on the market. Ours was just over £10 - check out

http://www.simply.co.uk/productinformation/510150/WW/QLTY_USB_TO_PS2_CONVERTER_USB_1.1/

I hope this helps.

 

[tekinept]

Well, thanks, but we already have the converters. Thats the problem, those did not work......
Contacted IBM, it seems there is an ECA for their own TFT rackmounts and this problem.
You're very lucky not to get hit with this..
What TFT are you using?

 

[gilsont]

[TT]

Well -we haven't actually had delivery of the p520 yet but were advised by IBM that using a USB-PS/2 cable would enable us to use our PS/2 KVM.

The monitor is the recomended IBM 7316-TF2.

We are expecting delivery of the p520 very soon - I'll let you know if we have problems.


[/TT]

 

[tekinept]

Well, got a USB KVM switch the other day... This didn't work either. Since then got another RISC, a openpower 720.... Same problem, had to rip the kybd and mouse from the other unit. Since it runs linux, the other setup will work okay, but only until Linux boots.

 

[gilsont]

[TT]

Our p520 has now arrived and I connected it to our existing IBM 7316-TF2 pull-out flat screen an keyboard using the PS/2 to USB adapter I purchased from the URL in my previous append. This is a Y cable with single ended USB and two PS/2 connectors.

All works absolutely fine - I have advised our IBM sales folks of this success.



[/TT]