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A Network-Based Software KVM Switch?
ScanTron writes "This seems like such an obvious piece of software, but I can't find any implementation. Like many Slashdot users, I have a Windows PC next to my Linux PC. Rather than using a KVM switch, I have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor for each PC. I'm looking for software that would let me use only one keyboard and mouse for both machines. Ideally, moving the mouse to the edge of one PC's screen would move it onto the next, letting me send mouse and keyboard events over the network. There is no reason this couldn't be used for two Linux machines, or even a Linux machine, a Windows machine, and a Mac. Does a similar solution for mouse and keyboard sharing exist?"
Yes, it exists.
If both machines are X-windows, use x2x.
If the master machine is X and the slave is not, use x2vnc.
If you have a different config, google for one of those terms and use the Windows package (I have no experience with it, but I think it's called something creative like win2vnc.)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergy2
Works with windows and X-11.
Synergy
http://sourceforge.net/projects/synergy2/
Sounds like what you're looking for. I haven't tried it but I've seen a complementary review of it.
Of course, there's Synergy, which I've briefly used. It seemed to do the job, but I've never had the use for it. I guess I should feel fortunate to have always had hardware KVM's on hand. It works with Linux and Win32 as well.
Experiments must be reproducible; they should all fail in the same way.
Use VNC.
Use Multiple Windows.
Or wait for somebody to suggest something else.
I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
urm... why not a hardware kvm? the two ports are in the sub $50 range last i checked...
Blackbox provides all!
THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
Dell has this functionality with their server... Mouse+Keyboard+Video -> RJ-45 dongle plugs into every server/PC... That RJ-45 plugs into a switch, and then some Dell client software auto recognizes the Systems plugged in, and lets you KVM between them, using a simple text popup window... Very badass setup.
http://freshmeat.net/projects/x2vnc/
Drives a Windows display (that has a VNC service) from your X display.
http://freshmeat.net/projects/x2x/
Drives another X11 display from your X display.
Each may be attached to any edge of your main display and grab the mouse and
keyboard as it crosses that edge, then driving the other display.
Exactly what you asked for. Very Very Useful.
Cameron Simpson, DoD#743 cs@cskk.id.au http://www.cskk.ezoshosting.com/cs/
If you really want KVM-over-IP, you'll want a hardware solution. A software-only setup won't help you with BIOS or networking problems. With a hardware-based KVM-over-IP you can have multiple network (and non-networked) paths back to the KVM itself.
n ion_kx/prd_line.aspx
I love the Raritan Dominion KX series, it's both a classic KVM and a IP-enabled KVM:
http://www.raritan.com/products/kvm_switches/domi
If you haven't worked with high-end KVMs before, don't be alarmed by the RJ-45 ports on the Raritan models. High end KVMs use Cat5 cable and adapters, it's quite handy and cheaper than buying thick bundles of coax for RGBHV.
What if you only have one Keyboard Mouse and Monitor?
Is there software that when I move the mouse to the edge of the screen takes control of a specific machine AND displays its screen?
He who knows not and knows he knows not is a wise man. He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool.
Rhis is the way coolest thing i have seen
Linux modi 2.6.26-2-parisc
I think Dell gets their KVM-over-IP equipment from Avocent, though there are other providers, such as Raritan. The best setups allow for a hybrid combination of traditional rackmount matrix KVM and more modern KVM-over-IP.
Also note that not all Cat5/RJ45 KVM units support KVM-over-IP. Many units simply use Cat5 cable to cut down on cost. (Cat5 plus an adapter on either end is cheaper than long runs of coax for video plus USB or PS/2 cables and repeaters.
Also note that pretty much all unix vendors have some sort of remote functionality as well. Sun has their LightsOutManagement, SGI has their L1/L2/L3 remote control systems, and even Apple has an oldschool console serial port on the back of the Xserve for remote mangement.
I wonder if anyone is planning to make a Windows2003 server box with some sort of serial-based mangement system. With web interfaces and microsoft's slightly enhanced command prompt, a person really shouldn't have to resort to using a full keyboard/mouse/video setup just to administer a Win2K3 server.
Is there some way to use a similar program to display ONE computer's output on BOTH machines, but (not mirroring, of course)? Basically I want to have a dual monitor setup every once in a while by plopping my notebook down beside my desktop. I am trying MaxiVista, which works well, but I wonder if there's something free out there too...
SYS 64738 NO CARRIER
I use it to do tech support on remote (east coast-west coast)machines without the airline BS. Small, fits on a floppy small. And it just works.
All of these let you move your mouse off the side of a screen on the machine running the program, over to another machine.
osx2x - control another machine via X11 or VNC, from a Mac.
x2x (check your OS' package collection) - control another machine via X11, from an X11 host.
x2vnc (again, check for packages) - control another machien via VNC, from an X11 host.
win2vnc - control another machine via VNC, from a Windows host.
rdesktop
Like Windows Remote Desktop, but running on Unix. I use it on my home network because I got fed up with all the KVM cables.
no taxation without representation!
Is there a hardware device that lets my laptop take control of the keyboard ports of another computer?
I have touchscreen PCs in remote locations with no keyboard or mouse. It would be nice to allow my laptop keyboard to send out strokes to the PS2 port on those computers to get into the bios or edit settings without toting around a keyboard.
I've seen a bunch of comments about Synergy. it works very well for me, as i have a Sun running Solaris 9 next to my Intel/Linux box, sharing the sun kbd and mouse.
The great thing about synergy is that you can easily tunnel it over SSH, so you are not sending any login/passwd/other sensitive info over the net in plaintext.
to do this:
1. set up the server one one machine, configure, and start ('synergys' from the CL).
2. set up a tunnel on port 24800 from the client to the server ('ssh -L24800:server:24800 you@server' --may vary by SSH flavor. also, 24800 is the default port, you can use another, should you care to, just specify it when starting the client).
3. start the client on the client machine looking for a server on the localhost (synergyc localhost).
4. Enjoy the extra deskspace after stashing the extra keyboards!
hope this helps someone.
One thing about Synergy: it is a KM (Keyboard and Mouse only), not KVM (ie, no video -- you can use one mouse and keyboard, but you still have to have two monitors). The original question said that there are two monitors there already, so Synergy would work for him, but it is not a solution for multiple computers (unless your desk looks like Tank's).
The Synergy FAQ said that KVM functionality may be added in the future.
We use it to control multible Milestone XProtect IP veideo servers from one control station. We of course need to see all the monitors but the extra kd/mice just cause headaches. Now the person monitoring can move the mouse to the screen in question with a natural move of the mouse. A bonus is the ability to control the Linux based NAS box and the SMTP server from the same workstation.
Si vis pacem, para bellum! For evil to succeed good men need only do nothing!