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KVM advice

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by nsteere

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Well,

I am looking for a tried and true 8 port PS/2 KVM with tangle-proof cables that is on the inexpensive side. Any advice. The Edimax 8 port has a great price but is it junk?? hmmmm...Belkin nice but cables are $30-$40 each.

7 replies

by ann777

I've used Belkin OmniView and LinkSys. Of the two, LinkSys works much better. I have not seen or used Edimax.

Make sure that you can get a full refund if the item does not work properly and then go from there.

The problems experienced withBelkin's kvm is that it will loose mouse or keyboard and not work properly until the unit then each of the computers are rebooted. The LinkSys unit does not do this for me, plus while the OmniView does a port scan, on the LinkSys unit there are buttons for each server, so I can directly connect.

by nsteere

I had the same experience with my Belkins so I tried TrippLite rackmount--great price and no boot problems.

by cbach1997

I can't say I recommened any KVM switch unless it's powered. Passive boxes have caused handshaking problems with the keyboard monitoring circuitry in many ATX motherboards. They wouldn't turn on unless I put the keyboard directly into the port while I hit the power switch. I could then remove it and put it on the switch. This defeats the purpose.

Video through some of the cheap relays and electronics also gets beat up as well, so I couldn't say I like the idea for that reason as well.Good luck,
cbach1997@hotmail.com

by briantruitt

We just set up a client with an Avocent?? KVM switch and it runs pretty damn decent. It was the cheapest one at CDW. We usually use Belkin but our one client likes to keep costs low so we thought we'd give the Avocent a try. No problems and the clients happy. BTW, you can either use it without power or with. Not bad.

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