KVM?

[ncage]

Hi everyone. I am trying to find a descent KVM switch and its been a nightmare. My very first kvm was a 2-port linksys unit that you just had to press the ctrl key twice and it switched machines. This unit was wonderful and i never had an issue with it. I increased the number of PC i needed connected so i wanted to upgrade to a 4 port KVM and every since then its been a total mess. First i went linksys because thats what worked so good before. I bought this unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817107750

It was very flaky. Sometimes then unit would lock up and i would have to pull every single cable from the unit so it would loose power and reset itself. You talk about a PAIN.

I then tried a belkin unit:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCa...cess?Product_Id=260736

This unit is similar to what i had but i think they no long sell the model i got. It was flakey too. Sometimes the key sequence would not switch the computer and it also would lock up.


I then thought i needed a higher end unit to get reliability. So i got a belkin high end KVM with OSD (On Screen Display) and it also had a power supply thinking that would make it better to.

Anyways this is what i bought:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817107322

This thing sucks. Some mice i plug into it won't even work I have a corded microsoft optical mouse that is not even usuable. Now the wireless version of the mouse works just perfectly. My keyboard/mouse will sometimes just randomly stop working.


There just seems to be so many flaky KVM out there. I just just sick of dealing with these issues but i really need a reliable KVM. Most of the time i can use something like RDP or something like that but sometimes i have to use a KVM. Here are the ones im currently looking at now:
MonoPrice: http://www.monoprice.com/produ...&seq=1&format=2&style=

IOGear:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817399001

The only thing i don't like about the IOGear unit is it does not have any manual switching function and incase keyboard switching gets flaky.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
ncage

 

[BZeto]

Avocent makes enterprise level KVM switches and we use them at work. I have never had a problem with them. You should check out their smaller/consumer switches.
Here's one at newegg.

Good luck.

 

[p0lar]

+1 on the IP-Based Avocents. Those were rebadged for dell enterprise configurations several years ago and really were grade-A units. IIRC, most were KVMoSTP. I believe I actually still have a blocking 1:8 port adapter somewhere..

 

[ncage]

Or do you think something like this would be good?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Avocent-Ou...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hopefully it won't have trouble powering USB devices with a usb/ps-2 adapter

 

[Nocturnal]

I have four of the IOGear GCS634U USB KVM switch. It is wonderful. Works fine with my Microsoft wireless keyboard and my IME3.0 mouse.

I fix computers for a living and have four in the shop. I have HPs, Dells, Compaqs, Sonys, EMachines, Gateways, Customs, etc. all connected to the KVM with no problems.

 

[ncage]

Thanks everyone for their replies. Thanks noc for verifying that the iogear is a descent unit. Now decisions decisions. Should i go with an older Avocent unit on ebay or the iogear. THe good thing about the avocent would be the nice OSD. The only thing i would be worried with the older units is how well would the support USB mice/keyboard when you plug them in with an adapter. The avocent would probably work great with my older linux boxes though. Also the resolution support on th avocent isn't that great..but right now i don't need it. The iogear unit definitly will probably support my usb devices since there isn't a PS/2 connector on it but of course you don't get the nice OSD support and the cables are a little more proprietary. What do you guys think?