Advantages: Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution Disadvantages: No manual overide or audio support
has USB connections for the keyboard and mouse although Belkin do a range of KVM's so you can probably find a PS/2 equivelent if you have that sort of mouse/keyboard. The PS/2 models also include PS/2->USB adaptors so you'll also need those if you have a USB mouse and PS/2 keyboard. This particular model has no support for audio so if you need to also have your microphone and speakers switch from PC to PC, look elsewhere.
The monitor, keyboard and mouse are then connected to the KVM to complete the set up. One bugbear is that like the vast majority of KVMs, this Belkin unit has cables going in one end and out the other making it difficult to place on a desktop without having cables hanging out everywhere. However, there is no reason why you can't just tuck it out the way out of sight as it has no parts you'd normally need to access ...
Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution, audio support Disadvantages: No manual overide
It's surprising how many people have more than one PC at home although even more surprising is that many of them each have their own screen, keyboard and mouse.
In many cases this makes perfect sense but sometimes, you know you'll only ever use one or the other - perhaps one is your general PC and the other your music workstation. In these situations you can save a lot of space and money by investing in a KVMswitch. KVM stands for Keyboard, Video and Mouse and allows you to use one keyboard, mouse and screen shared between two PCs.
This particular unit from Belkin is unusual in that it also includes audio support and also comes with all the leads permanently attached instead of being supplied as a separate cabling set.
Wiring it Up
Installation is simply a matter of taking each of the two main cables and plugging the sets ...
Advantages: easdy to use,USB connections,up to 4 pc's Disadvantages: not pretty,
,most previous switches used ps2 connectionsfor keyboard and mouse which was a real pain,the move to USB is both obvious and overdue and really puts the switch into the must have bracket for multi users.
Im no lover of Belkin products,they often run hot and have poor documentation but the KVMswitch is quite simpe to set up and dead easy to use so the manual is not a problem and as a switch it has no real heat problem.
Its not a pretty thing,but switches rarely are, they have by definition 'untidy wires' sprouting out of them so they are best hidden away.
The Belkin switch makes a good effort to be easy to use via your keyboard and easy to handle as far as cable plug ins go. The second point is a bit unnessary as once its set up u can forget it.
Most KVM's handle only two pcs but this one will do up to four(although i havent tried more than ...
Product Information for "Avocent SwitchView SC180 - KVM / USB switch - 8 ports" »
Kvm
Keyboard / Mouse Interface
PS/2
KVM Local Users Qty
1 local user
Max Resolution
2048 x 1536 @ 85 Hz
Manufacturer's product description
The Avocent SwitchView SC100 KVM switch series offers proven, secure access for any desktop environment where security is mandatory. SwitchView SC100 Series switches include three layers of tamper-proof hardware security at the desktop. In addition, SwitchView SC100 Series switches ensure that only USB human interface devices (HIDs) function on target computers by constantly monitoring all devices attached to the console ports. These switches ignore communication from non-HIDs (such as flash drives, hard disk drives, cameras and printers) when switching data to the target. In situations where the only USB ports for HIDs are enabled on the target computer, the SwitchView SC switch will not introduce security vulnerabilities. The SwitchView SC100 Series switches offer support for USB and / or PS/2 peripherals and target computers, and have an intrusion detection feature.
Related tags for Avocent SwitchView SC180 - KVM / USB switch - 8 ports »
