1 PC 2 users at the same time

[Jean Passe]

Hi all,

The problem : our flying club has actually 2 PCs (2 screens - 2 mouses
+ 2 keyboards - 2 internet connections) just to allow the members to
make reservations for their flights. These 2 computers do nothing else
(except other internet connections for weather information etc).
I was wondering if it is possible to eliminate one of the computers and
connect the 2 screens, mouses and keyboards to the remaining computer.
If we make 2 partitions on the harddisk or add a second HD, is it
possible to operate 2 different sessions at the same time ?
Thanks.

 

[Don Phillipson]

The problem : our flying club has actually 2 PCs (2 screens - 2 mouses + 2
keyboards - 2 internet connections) just to allow the members to make
reservations for their flights. These 2 computers do nothing else (except
other internet connections for weather information etc).
I was wondering if it is possible to eliminate one of the computers and
connect the 2 screens, mouses and keyboards to the remaining computer. If
we make 2 partitions on the harddisk or add a second HD, is it possible to
operate 2 different sessions at the same time ?

The OP does not say how these 2 PCs are connected i.e.
does not describe the network. The simplest way to network
two PCs is to enable Sharing of those Folders (on either)
that contain data files. It is also possible to instal Remote
Desktop Connection (which enables operating PC A from
the terminal of PC B) but this seems unnecessary in your case.

 

[Paul]

Hi all,

The problem : our flying club has actually 2 PCs (2 screens - 2 mouses +
2 keyboards - 2 internet connections) just to allow the members to make
reservations for their flights. These 2 computers do nothing else
(except other internet connections for weather information etc).
I was wondering if it is possible to eliminate one of the computers and
connect the 2 screens, mouses and keyboards to the remaining computer.
If we make 2 partitions on the harddisk or add a second HD, is it
possible to operate 2 different sessions at the same time ?
Thanks.

Jetway's Magic Twin, was a combination of hardware and software, to
allow two users to have independent sessions on the same computer. As
far as I know, it used a dual head video card, and one display channel
belonged to one OS, the other display channel to the other OS.

http://www.machspeed.com/manuals/MAGIC TWIN/MAGIC TWIN SOFTWARE XP.pdf

It included enough hardware specifics, so that Jetway could use it as
a means to promote the sale of their own complete computer
solutions.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/1295/4

That was back in 2004, and I don't know if they still sell the hardware
and software for that.

*******

Keeping the two PCs operating as they are, is called "redundancy".
If one PC has a hardware problem, you can continue to take reservations
while that PC is fixed. So changing your configuration is not recommended.
Continue to use what you have, and have paid for. Having two separate
PCs, means less downtime.

PCs in a public location, should be running something like SteadyState,
to provide some protection against the users "playing" with the machines.
The Public Library uses a similar scheme, as do Internet Cafes. If the
PCs are unprotected and in a public space, sooner or later some kid
is going to run software on them you don't want.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteadyState

*******

You can have two mice and two keyboards connected to the same PC, but they
typically control a single session of Windows. Both mice move the cursor
at the same time (arithmetic addition of stimulus). Both keyboards type
into the same text insertion point. That is what normally happens.

With the above Magic Twin software, somehow the inputs are kept separate.
One keyboard and mouse for one session, the other keyboard and mouse
for a second session. One monitor for each user.

Paul

 

[philo]

The OP does not say how these 2 PCs are connected i.e.
does not describe the network. The simplest way to network
two PCs is to enable Sharing of those Folders (on either)
that contain data files. It is also possible to instal Remote
Desktop Connection (which enables operating PC A from
the terminal of PC B) but this seems unnecessary in your case.

You missed the point of the OP's post...he does not want to network two
machines

anyway

yes it can be done


http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html

 

[terryc]

Hi all,

The problem : our flying club has actually 2 PCs (2 screens - 2 mouses +
2 keyboards - 2 internet connections) just to allow the members to make
reservations for their flights. These 2 computers do nothing else
(except other internet connections for weather information etc).
I was wondering if it is possible to eliminate one of the computers and
connect the 2 screens, mouses and keyboards to the remaining computer.
If we make 2 partitions on the harddisk or add a second HD, is it
possible to operate 2 different sessions at the same time ?

Yes, but it would be easier and more reliable to network the two
computers. I take it the problem is the application that takes the
bookings? If it can be changed to a browser form, then you could have N
computers.

If they are both on he internet, are they networked anyway?
2 sessions on one computer usually requires very hefty hardware, then
there are operating systems issues.

 

[terryc]

Forget what I wrote. Can you even have two mice and two keyboards
connected to one computer at the same time? Seems like there would have
to be a conflict somewhere while each one tried to take control.

In the old serial port days, multiple sessions were very easy as every
terminal ran off a seperate serial port terminal.

I'm not sure what people did for the keyboard, but multiple video cards,
mice off serial ports were easy.

It has been about a decade since I followed threads on hacking hardware
to do this. With "internet" technologies, it is generally cheaper,
easier and just as reliable to roll your own network of PCs.

 

[Jean Passe]

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Very good tip for SteadyState.

No the PCs are not connected to a LAN.

The reservation software is OpenFlyers, remote access on the
developer's servers. Yes, we can access from anywhere in the world. The
2 computers are in the clubhouse and mostly used by flightinstructors
and student pilots. They use a shared wifi hotspot.

Very good tip about redundancy also. I did not think of that, very
stupid (in aviation everything is redundant).

The goal was the free one PC in order to use it elsewhere for an other
job.

Thanks again.