Can KVM switch "fake" screens to PCs not currently selected?

Hardware Hub
1

I bought a PAAG-ET3114B KVM switch and connected my 4 PCs. It’s a DP 1.4 KVM switch. I used to work with a HDMI KVM switch (TESmart).

Problem I have is that on my laptop the build in screen will activate when I switch to another PC, and I normally disable that build in screen completely, when I have my laptop connected to my KVM setup I want it disabled.

However, switching to another PC will signal my laptop that there are no screens connected and the build in screen will activate.
Also powering up a PC with the KVM port active to another PC will result in the screen not coming on when I switch to the PC just powered up.

On my HDMI setup I did not have this issue.

Does this have to do with EDID config? Can my new KVM switch maybe keep a signal active to my PCs when I switch away from that PC?

Any solutions? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

2

Yes, but it depends on the KVM.

the L1T KVM’s do not do EDID emulation, but its an “easy” fix with an EDID dongle or pass-through.

Something like this (random pic from amazon not a recommendation) will emulate a screen attached to the computer.

1 Like
3

Thank you for this response… I will look into it.

Are there any other ways to trick Windows 11 (my laptop) into NOT using the build in screen?

4

If its a professional Nvidia card like mobile Quadro or RTX 5000 the drivers should have the ability to lock EDID in software.

I have seen mixed results as windows updates tend to overwrite this setting so I would not recommend it.

Assuming you want your laptop monitor to stay off even when you KVM away from the laptop?

I gave up and just mirror my main display and set a screen blanking time so the laptop turns off its screen after a while.

5

windows 11 has this built in

750×554 66.2 KB

check that checkbox

2 Likes
6

This does not work… I tried… It’s not about the windows in the windows desktop.

It’s about the build in laptop screen… That activates because windows/bios detects there are no active screens attached after I switch to another PC.

I want to use my big monitor exclusively when using the laptop… do I disable the laptop screen in the windows display manager… But as soon as I switch to another PC… Poof… the laptop screen activates… :frowning:

7

Thats why I mirror my display (4k to 4k) and use power tools to keep my windows from randomly snapping or resizing.

That or the EDID passthrough.

8

Mirror your display to what exactly? an extra port to the monitor?

My build in screen does not support 4k, so mirroring there wont work. But I suppose I could try to also connect HDMI… Mirror DP and HDMI from my laptop to my monitor and see if that works…

EDIT: tried mirroring and yes that works… however my laptop cannot handle 4K + 4K… It can do 25xx-1440… mirrored… But that resolution doesn’t look sharp enough and is a strain on the eyes.

Not quite where I want to be… :frowning:

9

Try the persistent windows utility?

10

I can’t read anything there that will help this issue.

Before I had DP and HDMI port both on docking station. The USB-C to the docking station cannot handle 2x 4K resolution. So now I connected DP via docking station and HDMI direct in laptop side. Now I get 2x 4K.

So I duplicated the two in windows display manager. But when i switch back from this laptop (via DP) to another PC, the laptop screen activates again…

However I can select disconnect from windows screen 1 (laptop screen) so now it will stay off even when I switch my KVM to other PC.

Not ideal, but I will give it a go.

Any suggestions regarding a DP EDID injector (or what is it called)? It should do 4K and 60fps… but higher (120 fps or 144 fps) would be great too, if such exists.

EDIT: Ordered this: DisplayPort 1.4 EDID Emulator - from LINDY UK
EDID emulator with DP 1.4 passthrough… can clone 4K with 144Hz… Should be nice :slight_smile:

11

No luck with the Lindy EDID emulator… :frowning:

I guess I’ll stick with connecting both DP and HDMI on my laptop and duplicated the desktop…

12

How about keeping the laptop lid closed; that should turn off thr internal display, right?

Or, rethink where the laptpp is on your desk, maybe have a laptop mount that places the device where the internal screen would be useful. Just an idea.

13

Thanks for the suggestions… I do use the webcam of the laptop when using Teams. So closing is not an option.

Too bad the KVM doesn’t integrate EDID emulation, that would be great…

14

some have the ability to capture the EDID and then pass that along. I dont know if you ever clarified which KVM you have?

15

It’s the PAAG-ET3114B KVM switch. Quite new model if you ask me,. Can this model capture EDID and pass it along?
If so… How?

Thanks

16

This topic was automatically closed 273 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.