Switching Monitor Input Between
KVM-to-monitor-output & Computer Output
Figure 2, below, shows how a
switch could act to control whether KVM-Switch-output-to-monitor or
computer output is sent to the monitor. This would be part of a larger
hardware network not shown in figure 2. The switch would interact with a
monitor, a computer, and a KVM switch, and be manually controlled not
keyboard controlled; a keyboard would not be connected to it.
Conceivably the switch could be a
(alternative 1) KVM switch, or a (alternative 2) VGA
switch with SVGA cables (also known as a 'switch-box', or 'video
switch'). If the monitor contained two inputs, the switch could be done
away with and (alternative 3) the monitor could be
switched manually between computer output and KVM output, with for
example possibly the computer connected to the VGA monitor input and the
KVM output-to-monitor connected to the DVI monitor input.
The success of the solution might be effected by
computer graphic card and KVM-output-to-monitor type (DVI, DVI-I, DVI-A,
VGA D-SUB analog) compatibility with monitor input(s).
There is an (ignorant?) report on the
internet of problems with the (alternative 2) 'VGA
Switch Box' solution: to avoid risk of computer damage when using the switch
box, one is supposed to shut down a computer before switching away from it, and
switch to a computer before turning it on.
There is a report that you can create a
(alternative 4) VGA signal splitter that sends signals
from two computers to one monitor by using 'gender-changers' to
reverse a VGA signal splitter that sends signals from one computer to two
monitors. This is supposed to be cheaper than the 'VGA Switch Box' solution, and
avoid the problem of having to turn computers on and off.
Figure 2
Switching Monitor Between KVM-to-monitor
Output & Computer Output
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Monitor
Connects to
SWITCH | |
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SWITCH
Switches between sending
KVM Output to Monitor,
&
sending Computer output to
monitor | |
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KVM Output to
Monitor
connects to
SWITCH | KVM Switch
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Computer
connects to
SWITCH | |
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Sources:
@2009 David Virgil
Hobbs