External switch for KVM

Level1 Store KVM Helpdesk
1

I’d like to replace a shoddy KVM with a 1.4 Display Port KVM Switch - Single Monitor - Two Computer device. Current setup:

kvm-setup

kvm-switch
kvm-switch1024×732 228 KB

From the Custom External Switch for L1 KVM thread, this may be possible using the following components:

My understanding is that I can plug the 101-key UNICOMP keyboard and the OneKeyBoard into the USB 3 Hub, then plug the Hub into the KVM.

Other requirements:

  • EDID
  • Set hot key for switching (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+Shift+PgUp rather than double-tap the Scroll Lock key)
  • Assign OneKeyBoard to Ctrl+Alt+Shift+PgUp hot key

I’m wondering:

  • Is this setup doable to switch desktops using a physical button?
  • What gotchas may be encountered?
  • Where are instructions for setting (changing) the Level 1 Tech KVM Switch hot key?

Thank you!

2

Thank you for pinging me! Very sorry for the delay.

I’ve never seen someone do this. I don’t think it’s possible…

Is this possible? @wendell

3

No, youd program the usb gadget to rotate through displays or pick a specific display via hotkey programming on the gadget, not in the kvm

4

Couldn’t you use the scan feature? It wouldn’t be 100% consistent due to no signal causing it to skip the input, but it might be an okay solution.

While you cant change the hotkey to anything you want, you can use ctrl, ctrl instead of scroll lock, scroll lock.

Check this page for all the info you could possibly need on the kvm.

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5

oh yeah he could use the scan hotkey to make the usb gadget do that.

I did a custom program that just sends ctrl ctrl ( press count modulo 4)
so it cycles through 1/2/3/4 with just one button. but thats in the button not the kvm

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6

Much appreciated. Same problem, though: I will sometimes double-tap the control key. It sounds like until there’s a way to customize the hot key for switching, I’ll have to put up with the IOGEAR KVM.

7

If you’re trying to prevent the keyboard from operating the KVM hotkeys, you can plug the keyboard into a USB 3 port, instead of a HID port and it will be ignored by the KVM.

As for the controls, I’ve got a KVM “remote” that I built for the 4-port KVM, specifically to solve this problem. My keyboard is plugged into a usb3 port and between these two, I’ve got a functional setup.

8

in addition to what sgt said about using usb3 to avoid picking up any shortcuts, as described in the faq, you can disable left ctrl as a leading key even with a hid port.

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9

This sounds promising, though I’m fuzzy on the details. As I understand it, I can use the following hardware:

Then:

  1. Program the OneKeyBoard to emulate sending Scroll Lock + Scroll Lock when pressed, with a 5 ms delay between emulated keystrokes.
  2. Power off laptop and desktop.
  3. Plug the shared keyboard into USB 3 hub.
  4. Plug the shared mouse into the USB 3 hub.
  5. Plug the USB 3 hub into the KVM USB 3 port.
  6. Plug the OneKeyBoard into the KVM HID port.
  7. Plug the laptop keyboard/video/mouse into the KVM.
  8. Plug the desktop keyboard/video/mouse into the KVM.
  9. Power on laptop and desktop.
  10. Disable hot keys on the KVM’s USB 3 port.

At this point:

  • Pressing Scroll Lock + Scroll Lock on the keyboard will have no effect.
  • Pressing the OneKeyBoard button will switch between computers.

Is that about right?

10

Pretty much, yep!

I believe you can use the manual scan feature to change to the next connected display once, but im not all that up to speed on this specific feature.

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