Re: [PLUG] usb kvm switch

[Greg Lopp <lopp@pobox.com>]

Dan Crosta wrote:
> Has anyone had any experience with USB kvm switches, particularly the 
> Belkin OmniView SOHO 2-port DVI/USB KVM switch? Is linux "aware" of the 
> switch, or that the HID keyboard and mouse are disconnected when using 
> the other computer, or does it just think that nothing is being typed 
> and the mouse is not moving?

One problem occasionally encountered with conventional KVM switches is 
that a host PC will somehow detect that there is nothing connected to 
it and disable the mouse and keyboard.  Switch back to this PC and all 
you can do is shake the mouse in vein and reboot.  If the designers of 
this USB KVM have any clue, that will never happen with it.

The nature of USB stipulates that all communication is initiated by 
the host PC.  HID keyboards and mice tell the host how often they 
should be polled for data. Most of those pollings indicate that there 
is no new data.  One would assume that the KVM switch merely answers 
those polls when switched away.

Again, assumption: the KVM is a transparent pass through or appears as 
a hub (meaning that its a pass through with some features)
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