[clug] Dumb USB question - Summary

[Stephen Jenkin]

Thanks to Brad Hards for talking me through some of the technicalities of
USB devices. Something like what I want is on the net for US$125...

I tried (and tonight retried) the easy ways to cascade the two KVM's or
not use the USB KVM at all.  The USB KVM cascaded into the PS/2 does
"work" in some senses of the word, but is not usable - which is why I
tried to invert the normal arrangement.  The VGA signal gets noisy (wobbles) or
the mouse goes into "auto-glide" mode (moves by itself and is very
sensitive) *plus* freezes - which can get quite exciting :-)

A friend showed me 4-port PS/2 KVM's on e-bay for $7 + pp.
So I can experiment replacing the switches & see if anything works.

Hope this helps someone.

cheers
steve

On Tue, 8 Aug 2006, steve jenkin wrote:

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> I've got a DUMB user question about USB - actually *2* questions :-)
> 
> 1. Where in the Web do I get answers to Stupid User Questions like this?
>    STFW for me is "google" - and I have no idea of what search terms I
>    could use...
> 
> 2. The USB question:
>    I bought a Mac (mini) so I could run commercial Apps for Uni :-(
>    It only has USB keyboard. All my Linux boxes are old and boot with
>     PS/2 - and happily work with my 4yr old PS/2 KVM [P-KVM]
> 
>    Enter the 2-port USB KVM for mac & primary Linux box. [U-KVM]
>    [Tried a USB-PS/2 adaptor, OK direct to Mac, not through P-KVM]
> 
>    I've achieved a single monitor by connecting the video output of the
>    PS/2 KVM to the USB KVM.
> 
>    I'd really like to have just one (USB) keyboard and mouse...
> 
>    Is there a way to connect the single USB from U-KVM to the
>    PS/2 (K+M) inputs on P-KVM??
> 
>    The Dumb User method is to use a USB F-F joiner to join the M-M
>    USB output cable from U-KVM to the USB-PS/2 adaptor. Alternate
>    would be to plug both devices into powered hub (no host).
> 
>    It's gonna do one of three things:
>    - work :-)
>    - not work :-(
>    - fry everything is sight (or on site) :=[
> 
>    If this was RS-232 I'd know what to do :-)
>    I understand USB has 'hosts' [that provide power] but don't know if
>    there connections like DCE/DTE...
> 
>    So... anyone done anything like this or point me somewhere that says
>          "can't be done" or what to do??
> 
> TIA
> steve
> 
> - --
> Steve Jenkin, Info Tech, Systems and Design Specialist.
> 0412 786 915 (+61 412 786 915)
> PO Box 48, Kippax ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA
> 
> sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~sjenkin
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Steve Jenkin, Info Tech, Systems and Design Specialist.
0412 786 915 (+61 412 786 915)
PO Box 48, Kippax ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA

sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~sjenkin