KVM Switch: Do I need special cables?

[Sam]

Do I need special cables to connect 2 PCs with 1 monitor or will two
standard VGA cables do?

 

[Mike Easter]

Do I need special cables to connect 2 PCs with 1 monitor or will two
standard VGA cables do?

The type of KVM that I like, I have several, is the type which comes
with cables all as a single unit. Mine are 2port PS/2 m/kb only, but if
I had it to do over, I would also get audio.

http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS62/ MiniView Micro PS/2 KVM Switch
with cables

http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS612A/ MiniView Micro PS/2 Audio KVM
Switch with cables

Each time I bought one, it was on sale at a greatly reduced price
compared to normal retail.

 

[MN]

Mike,

How LONG are the cables on the IOGear KVM switches? (I could not find this
info on the web site.)

=========================================================================

 

[Newb]

You have guys looked at this from Dealsextreme? It's only $12.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.718

 

[Mike Easter]

Mike,

How LONG are the cables on the IOGear KVM switches? (I could not find this
info on the web site.)

6 feet. That is, each 'end' is 6'+, so stretched end to end it reaches 12'.

- 6' long molded-in cables to simplify setup -

In my case, for one KVM, my towers are perched in an elevated position
on top of the desk and the cables go under the desk which is where the
kb mouse and video cable connect.

I like the fact that there is no software, so any OS works, no switches,
its mode is all controlled with the keyboard -- I sound like an iogear
salesman

It also has some rarely used modes, besides the main one of being able
to just flip back and forth between 2 towers with keyboard clicks, you
can flip it into 'autoscan' mode, in which it flips back and forth
between the two by itself at a given interval controlled by the initial
onset sequence.

 

[Guest]

Mike,

How LONG are the cables on the IOGear KVM switches? (I could not find this
info on the web site.)

=========================================================================

Thanks. But, I am unclear if I need special KVM cables or if the extra
VGA cables I have will do the job?

 

[Mike Easter]

Thanks. But, I am unclear if I need special KVM cables or if the extra
VGA cables I have will do the job?

My monitors each/all have a - their own - VGA cable, which normally
attaches to the VGA of an integrated graphics mobo or the VGA of a vid
card in a 'native' non-KVM operation..

In the IOGear setup, that monitor VGA cable attaches to the central
'nub'/hub of the KVM's VGA.

Similarly the normal PS/2 cables of your mouse and keyboard attach to
the central nub/hub of the KVM.

That is, you don't buy any cables with the IOGear; the cables which
connect to the 2 computer towers' ports for VGAs, keyboards, and mice
are one piece molded construction (x2) to the nub/hub which is where the
'electronics' for the 'control' ie switching (or autoscanning) reside.

 

[Mike Easter]

Thanks. But, I am unclear if I need special KVM cables or if the extra
VGA cables I have will do the job?

If you bought this device

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.718

which has no 'integrated' cables as the IOGear, then your own VGA would
attach to the KVM switch and your own mouse and your own keyboard PS/2
cables would attach, then/but you would need to obtain 6 cables (or the
integrated equivalent of 6 cables, 2 each vga to go from switch to
computer 1&2, 2 each mouse PS/2 to comp1&2, and 2 each keyboard PS/2 to
comp1&2.

So, the need to handle the cabling is a very important consideration, as
is how to perform the switching for those devices which use/need manual
switches, because you would need to be able to 'put your hand on' the
switch, which would have a big effect on whereall the cables were running.

The beauty of the IOGear type switch is that it solves the cable problem
and also because the little hub/nub can go hide somewhere, as can the
parts of the 3 sets of 3 cables. There is no need to touch the hub/nub
to flip the KVM.

 

[Sam]

The type of KVM that I like, I have several, is the type which comes
with cables all as a single unit. Mine are 2port PS/2 m/kb only, but if
I had it to do over, I would also get audio.

http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS62/ MiniView Micro PS/2 KVM Switch
with cables

http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS612A/ MiniView Micro PS/2 Audio KVM
Switch with cables

Each time I bought one, it was on sale at a greatly reduced price
compared to normal retail.

So do u need special KVM cables or will just regular VGA cables that
come with your monitor do?

 

[Mike Easter]

So do u need special KVM cables or will just regular VGA cables that
come with your monitor do?

If you buy the IOGear, you don't buy any cables. If you buy some other
that requires cables, you buy 'regular' cables.

Notice that your original qx and its follow-up and its Subject are not
specifying any particular brand/modelno KVM switch.

 

[Sam]

If you buy the IOGear, you don't buy any cables. If you buy some other
that requires cables, you buy 'regular' cables.

Notice that your original qx and its follow-up and its Subject are not
specifying any particular brand/modelno KVM switch.

Thanks, I will likely be buying no name KVM switches that sell for
around $11 w/o cables, similar to the one by another post above. I
have no idea on the quality either, if it makes any difference. I dont
need anything fancy as I wont be playing games.