Reverse KVM switch?

Zuntar

OK, Ive got a request / questions.

My wife has a computer downstairs in the living room. She has a desk upstairs where she does all of her crafts/ card making. She teaches classes on this stuff, so when she need to write up instructions or reference material online, she is far away from her "work" desk. She has been using my computer which is 8 feet away to do this, but I am tired of giving up my PC time many nights for her to work, SO.....


She needs word processing and internet access capabilities.
possible sollutions are:

Get a laptop = too much money.
Put a cheap PC there for her to use = possible
KVM of some type = sounds great, but not sure its possible.

Is it possible to give her a monitor, keyboard, and mouse and have her use her computer downstairs from upstairs?

karatekid

I am willing to guess something like this does exist. What you could also do is simply attach another keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the computer (assuming the computer has USB and can support multiple monitors.)

In both cases, I think you have the problem of running some long (and expensive) wires from upstairs to downstairs.

kryyst

What you want essentially is a thin client. You'd have to run terminal services on her computer downstairs and have a stripped down thin client upstairs. But for the price of getting a thin client even if it's just a refurbed PC - you might as well just install the second PC in that situation.

The same would go for attaching a second set of I/O to your computer. There is such a thing as a Reverse KVM Switch bur for the cost you can get a refurbed P4 to do what your wife needs. If it's a 1 person at a time deal then you may be able to do ok with a Reverse KVM as they are about $100 for the switch (need I/O on top of that) if both people are wanting to use it at the same time then you are hitting the $200 range (again not including I/O).

Zuntar

What about one of these, do you know how they work?

kryyst

Those are for controlling certain server types - not what you want.

Zuntar

kryyst wrote: »

Those are for controlling certain server types - not what you want.

GRRRRRRrrrrrr, how can something so simple be so hard to do and/or not available. It's just a F'n switch!

Me =:pwned:

kryyst

But it's not really that simple. The link I put up to Reverse KVM switches will cover you.

Now another option would be to just add a second monitor (may need a 2nd video card to do it) then add in another usb keyboard and mouse. It'll accept inputs from either of the keyboards and attached mice - though not all at the same time. That way you could have it setup in a 2 desk sorta style. But again only 1 person in control at a time. If you both are planning on using it at the same time then it has to go through a terminal service style setting and those Reverse KVM switches are the only way to do it.

Zuntar

I have no plans to use both at the same time. Its her computer downstairs, and her terminal upstairs. The video card has two outputs, but the real problem is the long distance of 60 ~75 feet.

kryyst

Face it your boned. Time to get yet another computer for light use.

Zuntar

I have a small *gulp* Compaq P3 that I acquired from my sis-in-law. Just gonna need a flat panel monitor, a mouse, and keyboard...... OH, yea an acquired OS.

Your-Amish-Daddy

Damn, a big hairy deal out of a small problem. 75 feet need to be spanned? No Problem for YAD!

What you need is a normal KVM, and a shitload of Cat5E cable. Three times what you need in distance. Cat5 can keep strong signals up to 100feet. I've done this before. It works great, but I only extended a cable 10 feet. You can use your imagination on what to do next. Since VGA out is 15 pins, 8+8=16, There you go. Just make sure you know what you're matching to what or you'll have a dead video card and a dead monitor. I used a about 20 post-it notes and worked four strands at a time. USB's 4+4=8, solids for power, stripes for data. Easy as sunday morning. If you don't wanna use much of the KVM, make one of your own out of Cat cable and a trip to your local Altex or Equivelent, pick up a 5x5x3 project box, two USB female, two USB male, One male and female DB15 or DSUB, for whatever you're using. I say use DB15 since it's longest cable is 20 feet. And the last time I checked..The 350mhz Cat5 cable will be just enough for DB15, but not enough for DSUB. Now you could just go S-Video if you had a LCD/HD Television and use the Cat cable to extend USB stuff.

I've done this crap before. It works.

Zuntar

Hmmmm.


I've got a couple hundred feet of cat 6 cable, as my bro works in "network cabling".

Your-Amish-Daddy

There you go. Get to it.

kryyst

You still need a reverse KVM since it's a set of I/O driving 1 computer and not the other way around.

Zuntar

Screw it, I'll get her a laptop someday.