The optimal answer is to use a remote desktop client and server application. If you need to control two computers using one monitor and a hardware KVM switch is out of the question, what can you do? Especially if you aren’t willing to shell out for a professional software KVM switch. Software KM switches such as Mouse Without Borders even lets you seamlessly use the clipboard and drag files between machines as if they were one. Such as a lack of cabling and the ability to KVM computers that are very far away. However, compared to the price of a hardware KVM, Multiplicity is a real bargain and adds many advantages. Unfortunately that product is not free, although you can try it out to see if it works for you. There are true software KVMs as well, such as Stardock Multiplicity (30-day trial). However, if you combine a software KM switch with our first solution where we plug two computers into one monitor, you effectively get a KVM switch without paying anything extra! So these are actually software “KM” switches and don’t really solve our problem at all. Microsoft Garage Mouse Without Borders (free!).Examples of these software packages include: What you actually get is a software solution that lets you use multiple computers with the primary computer’s mouse and keyboard.Įach computer still needs to have its own monitor and be in the room with you. Software KVM switches are actually not the equivalent of hardware KVM switches in most cases. It might take a few seconds to change between computers and if you have to do so constantly that can be a bit of a pain. KVM switches can also be slow to actually make the switch, depending on the specific hardware you are using. All display and USB cables have length limits before you need to start buying a signal repeater or simply live with all of your hardware within a few feet of you. For one thing, all of your computers need to be physically connected to the KVM switch. There are plenty of downsides too however.
Just plug everything in and use each computer with no performance penalty or potential for software glitches causing downtime.
The big advantage of a KVM switch is that they are straightforward to use. You can get a basic 2-port VGA model for about twenty dollars, or spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end 4K 4-port unit with rather fancy features such as picture-in-picture options. KVM switches vary significantly in both price and functionality. A hardware KVM switch is a physical device that can accept connections from multiple computers and then output to a single monitor, while accepting input from a single keyboard and mouse. “KVM” is short for Keyboard, Video and Mouse.
0 kommentar(er)
