Re: OT: kvm alternatives? (was: booting with no keyboard or moue)
You might look on ebay or something like that, I was lucky, a friend decided
he was going to upgrade his and gave me a 6 port KVM. To help you find one
here is the info:
BELKIN Omni View (model F1D065)
This is an AT/Serial type KVM but adaptors can be purchased for a couple of
dollars to plug in PS/2 devices.
John
On Saturday 16 February 2002 23:22, Alex Malinovich wrote:
> Pardon me for a hideously off-topic question here, but does anyone know
> of any cheap alternatives to getting a KVM for home use? I've got 3 PC's
> tucked away under my desk, as well as a Sega Dreamcast that I connect my
> monitor and my keyboard to, and none of them care about whether they're
> started up with or without these devices or whether the devices are
> plugged in afterwards. So, for me, there's no benefit in getting a KVM
> for $500+ when I'm sure that there's a "quick and dirty" solution
> available somewhere. I've scoured the net to no avail. (I'm not an
> engineer, but how hard can it be to have a switch go from one input to 4
> outputs?)
>
> -Alex
>
> On Sat, 2002-02-16 at 22:06, Alvin Oga wrote:
> > hi ya Mike
> >
> > to boot w/o kb is tricky.... mouse is less of an issue
> > - and yeah...cant hit F1 to continue if there is no kb
> > plugged in
> >
> > - if you can be there ... its easiest to just plug in the kb ...
> > reboot it... and unplug it when the kb is needed on another pc
> >
> > - went poking around to see why kvm switches was so expensive..
> >
> > - probably can use a wireless kb to aim it at the pc being rebooted??
> >
> > some fake kb adaptors...
> > http://www.vetra.com/Elimina2.htm
> > http://www.raritan.com/products_gdn.html
> >
> > http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/a01e61042c57d97786256843005724
> >89?OpenDocument
> >
> > am just wondering... why dont we just insert a pull up or pulldown
> > resistor on the transmit port of the keyboard connector...
> >
> > donno if the linuxbios project allows for "keyboard-less" boots
> >
> > have fun
> > alvin
> > http://www.Linux-1U.net . how do you backup a terabyte disk system.. :-)
> >
> > On 16 Feb 2002, Elizabeth Barham wrote:
> > > "Mike Millner" <mike@mikeshome.com> writes:
> > > > Is it a function of the hardware bios or the OS to be able to boot
> > > > without a keyboard or mouse? I have a Debian Potato system that is
> > > > up and running. I want to be able to boot the system with no
> > > > keyboard or mouse plugged in. I SSH to it when I need to check it or
> > > > do anything.
> > >
> > > BIOS. Some BIOS' (notably the older Compaq's) halt on Boot if it can't
> > > find a keyboard (but if you plug in a monitor it says something like
> > > "Press F1 to Configure, F2 to continue"). To the best of my knowledge
> > > this is unconfigurable for these older Compaq's.
> > >
> > > > If it is hardware anyone know where I can get a dummy mouse and
> > > > dummy keyboard?
> > >
> > > I looked for these in the past and I don't recall finding anything (or
> > > if I did it was above my budget). Your options are rather limited if
> > > your BIOS errors with no keyboard installed:
> > >
> > > 1) Purchase a $5 keyboard at the store, plug it in, boot, leave
> > > the keyboard plugged in and walk off.
> > > 2) Bring a keyboard, plug it in, boot, remove the keyboard (but
> > > hopefully you have a UPS).
> > > 3) There are little devices ($50?) that allow you to hook up
> > > more than one machine to one monitor, one keyboard, and one mouse -
> > > you select which one you want to use with a button on the
> > > device. Use it.
> > >
> > > I generally just go with No. 1.
> >
> > --
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