Using KVM Switch

[AmigaEd]

Hello,
I thought I saw a post on this a while back, but I'll be darned if I can find what I was looking for, so sorry if this is a re-hash.

Is it possible to use a KVM switch with the A500, A1000 or A2000? I would think that it is possible but I'm sure some swapping of signals is needed at the various connectors. Anyone have some experience with this?

Regards,
AmigaEd

[delshay]

i got a KVM SOHO two days ago,iv not tested it yet...need to get some 0.5m vga leads male to female..

[adolescent]

If it's a mechanical switch then it should work. But, if you're talking about anything good then you'll need to convert everything (mouse and keyboard) to PS/2 standards.

[DonnyEMU]

There used to be amiga specific KVM switches

[bludger]

Does anyone know how to build a PS/2 to Amiga adapter?
I would love to be able to use my wireless mouse and keyboard thru the KVM switch to access my A4000 (or possibly my 1200?) OS 3.5 looks pretty good on my 17 inch LCD!

[X-ray]

@ delshay

I want to know how you get on with that Soho KVM because I have a very cheap mechanical monitor switcher here (share between PC and Amiga) and it gives me faint vertical ghosting on the PC side, whether the Amiga is on or off.

[AmigaEd]

@delshay

Yes, I'll second that please do let us know how it goes wit the Soho KVM.

As far as I know its all just a matter of passing TTL signals through the box to the correct peripheral device.

I would think that as long as the appropriate connectors can be integrated into the KVM or peripherals and there is enough capacity as far as the number of lines to carry signals that must be switched, then I believe that it should be workable.

-AmigaEd

[aggro_mix]

I'm using a Cybex 4 port KVM switch with my Amiga 3000 and three other computers. I had to get a Lyra keyboard interace for using a PC PS/2 keyboard through the KVM switch but the Amiga still has its own mouse. It might work with a ps/2 adapter as well but I haven't tried yet.

Of course it only works with a scandoubler/graphics gard....

[lorddef]

I've got the same setup; everything through my kvm except for my amiga mouse. I intend to buy an adapter from amigakit when I get round to it.

[jdryyz]

Since you are using the Lyra with an Amiga 3000, do you also have to use a PS/2 adapter in addition to the Lyra to use a PS/2 keyboard?

Is the Lyra adapter the best solution available for the Amiga 3000 to adapt to a modern keyboard? I want to use a KVM with my Wintel box, A3000 and Pegasos II machines. The A3000 mouse will have to stay for a while in my case also. :)





aggro_mix wrote:
I'm using a Cybex 4 port KVM switch with my Amiga 3000 and three other computers. I had to get a Lyra keyboard interace for using a PC PS/2 keyboard through the KVM switch but the Amiga still has its own mouse. It might work with a ps/2 adapter as well but I haven't tried yet.

Of course it only works with a scandoubler/graphics gard....

[vpcs]

You can not use a regular KVM switch with an amiga keyboard. The KVM switch used keycodes to detect the connect and keyboard in use. You must use an adapter such as the Lyra. A regular PS/2 adapter will cause the amiga to display a key continouisly depressed. I have tried this with two seperate KVM switches that have auto detect.

[duesi]

I use a normal electronic switchbox :-)
Lyra Adapter for the PS/2 Keyboard
I also have the Toplino for the mouse
but that one dosen't work through the switch

(Amiga has separate mouse)
but there are PS/2 Mouse Adpters available that work with KVM Switches (Mr. Hardware) IIRC

Link (http://www.buyextras.com/bsmvi2aukvms.html)

[jdryyz]

I realize you cannot use a KVM switch an Amiga...not without the correct adapters.

My question was regarding the best PS/2 adapter solution available for the A3000. It would appear to be the Lyra so far. I understand, however, that the Lyra will not adapt directly to a PS/2 keyboard, only the old style (AT?) keyboard.

So, to use a KVM designed for PS/2 equipment, one would need a second adapter for A3000 version of Lyra. I trust this will work fine. I just wanted to check.




vpcs wrote:
You can not use a regular KVM switch with an amiga keyboard. The KVM switch used keycodes to detect the connect and keyboard in use. You must use an adapter such as the Lyra. A regular PS/2 adapter will cause the amiga to display a key continouisly depressed. I have tried this with two seperate KVM switches that have auto detect.

[Tahoe]

jdryyz wrote:
My question was regarding the best PS/2 adapter solution available for the A3000. It would appear to be the Lyra so far. I understand, however, that the Lyra will not adapt directly to a PS/2 keyboard, only the old style (AT?) keyboard.


The Lyra accepts a standard PS/2 keyboard, and works fine with a KVM switch. You do need a PS/2 -> DIN converter to connect the lyra to your miggy, the Lyra has a 4000 PS/2 style connector.

I use my Amiga 4000 with Lyra and Cocolino on an Avocent KWM Switch (16 channel pro version) and works like a charm with my Mickysoft Keyboard and Logitech Optical mouse.

[jdryyz]

Thanks for the info!


Tahoe wrote:

jdryyz wrote:
My question was regarding the best PS/2 adapter solution available for the A3000. It would appear to be the Lyra so far. I understand, however, that the Lyra will not adapt directly to a PS/2 keyboard, only the old style (AT?) keyboard.


The Lyra accepts a standard PS/2 keyboard, and works fine with a KVM switch. You do need a PS/2 -> DIN converter to connect the lyra to your miggy, the Lyra has a 4000 PS/2 style connector.

I use my Amiga 4000 with Lyra and Cocolino on an Avocent KWM Switch (16 channel pro version) and works like a charm with my Mickysoft Keyboard and Logitech Optical mouse.

[alexh]

Not that it matters but if you have an Amiga network you can avoid using a KVM and use a dual input monitor, VNC for Amiga and Win2VNC.

Keyboard and mouse events are sent via the network.

[jdryyz]

Hmmm...seems I am having trouble locating the Lyra device for sale. I believe redrumloa had some for a while. Are there any US retailers carrying the A3000 version?

[avanham]

@X-ray

I also started with a switchbox and had the same problems with ghosting but now I use a digital KVM (Hawking) and there is no ghosting on the monitor at all. I have a keyboard adapter from Softhut for my A1200. I am not sure who makes it, but sometimes I get into a situation where a key I just pressed keeps repeating and won't stop until I reboot. I am not sure what causes this, but it is really annoying.

[adolescent]

@Jeff

Check out http://www.revanchellc.com/ for the RAMA and RAKA interfaces. Good stuff. (If you're going to order, let me know and I'll order mine on the same bill and we can split shiping)

[X-ray]

@ Avanham

Do you have a link or exact model number for that KVM? And what is your output device on the Amiga (what scandoubler is it?)

[dnelsonfl]

True, some adapters do work. With an A3000, using a Lyra keyboard adapter and Cocolino mouse adapter through a 4-port autosense no-name KVM. Video, keyboard, and mouse work fine with 17" LCD and wireless keyboard and mouse.



duesi wrote:
but there are PS/2 Mouse Adpters available that work with KVM Switches (Mr. Hardware) IIRC

[jdryyz]

adolescent,

I believe I have found what I'm looking for on Amigakit.com. They carry both the Lyra keyboard adapter and the mouse port adapter. I'm having trouble figuring out why there's a discrepancy in cost when accessing the UK site vs the US site, however. The Euro-to-Dollar conversions aren't matching my calculations.



adolescent wrote:
@Jeff

Check out http://www.revanchellc.com/ for the RAMA and RAKA interfaces. Good stuff. (If you're going to order, let me know and I'll order mine on the same bill and we can split shiping)

[avanham]

@X-ray

It is a Hawking CS152F. My scandoubler is a "Internal Scan Magic - Scan Doubler w/ Flicker Fixer for A1200/A4000D" that I got from SoftHut

avanham

[X-ray]

@ Avanham

I can't find that item for sale.

@ Delshay

It's been a while...surely you have used the Soho by now. Can you tell us how good it is?

[billt]

I have a Dlink KVM that works well between my PC, AmigaOne and A4000T. I'll have an A3000 on it too when I finish hacking it into a tower case, and would like to upgrade from a 4-port to a larger KVM in case I find myself with even more computers piled up in there, as I may need another PC in there, maybe a Mac someday...

It all seems to work well, except the EZkey PS/2 keyboard adaptor I have loses the backslash key and won't do a reset when I press all the buttons mapped to L-Amiga, R-amiga and delete. :/ Might have to find one that works better someday. The PS/2 adaptors for mice seem to work well. The mouse wheel doesn't do anything, but I'm not really sure how to map the wheel to something useful to me.

I used to have an old KVM with a mechanical switch, VGA, AT keyboard connectors and serial mouse connectors that mostly worked between Amiga things. Unfortunetaly eery now and then when switching it would trigger a reset signal on keyboard and reboot one of the machines, which wasn't very nice. Getting an electronic one and all the adaptors for PS/2 things may cost more, but is a better user experience.

It's getting harder to find PS/2 KVMs though, USB is taking over more and more, but if you search around you can still find good ones. USB KVMs can probably work too with USB->PS2 adaptors for each Amiga's PS/2->Amiga adaptor, but I'm not sure where you get just those USB->PS/2 adaptors as you would need one for each computer and you only get one with a keyboard if at all for example.

But as My A4000T works, there's no reason to expect your machines won't work just as well. You'd need some adaptor to fit any Amiga/PS2 adaptor to the A1000, and another for the A500, as I'm not sure the PS/2 adaptors were made for those models, but there is some slight possibility of one for A500. For A1000 you'll need to hack one yourself. There's probably docs on aminet to show how to build such things for either of those machines...

[X-ray]

@ BillT

I am only going to do the monitor sharing between PC and A4KT. Does your switch give clear displays on both machines? No ghosting on either one when both are connected?

[skabby]

I have a lyra and cocolino adapter on my a4k through a kvm switch (infosmart) the only problem is that the kvm is "intelligent" and taking power from its units, requiring me to unplug the amiga-kvm-cable when it is powered on to switch to the other boxes... (switching _from_ the a4k is ok _once_, but when I want to switch to/between other boxes afterwards it requires me to unplug the a4k-kvm cable, and replug after switching, or power off the amiga completely)
I have a feeling that the lyra, or cocolino, is either missing a power signal, or blocking/grounding it?

Anyway, other than the kvm-problems, lyra, and cocolino works great, its nice to have a working mouse scroll-wheel on the a4k, but I really have to get some Amiga stickers to replace the stupid windows logos on my ps2 -keyboard, pressing ctrl-win-win for reboot is a bit disturbing...

[jdryyz]

That sounds like the same problem I'm having. I picked up a 4 port KVM from these folks:

http://www.justcomtech.com/product/hom_jc102_104_p_full.htm

It works surprisingly great even though it uses the "shared" cable connections. I was very skeptical about that setup at first, but it does seem to work out well. Hardly any noticable ghosting with my 19" LCD.

The way I've dealt with the problem is to do all my Amiga stuff first, since switching away and then back to the Amiga is disabled once the Amiga is powered on. My other three (PS/2 native) computers switch just fine.


skabby wrote:
I have a lyra and cocolino adapter on my a4k through a kvm switch (infosmart) the only problem is that the kvm is "intelligent" and taking power from its units, requiring me to unplug the amiga-kvm-cable when it is powered on to switch to the other boxes... (switching _from_ the a4k is ok _once_, but when I want to switch to/between other boxes afterwards it requires me to unplug the a4k-kvm cable, and replug after switching, or power off the amiga completely)
I have a feeling that the lyra, or cocolino, is either missing a power signal, or blocking/grounding it?

Anyway, other than the kvm-problems, lyra, and cocolino works great, its nice to have a working mouse scroll-wheel on the a4k, but I really have to get some Amiga stickers to replace the stupid windows logos on my ps2 -keyboard, pressing ctrl-win-win for reboot is a bit disturbing...