OmniView PRO2 PS/2 Series KVM Switches deliver the reliable performance and centralized ... more
control best for managing medium-to-large server environments. Offering PS/2 support, the PRO2 PS/2 Series provides an administrator control over multiple computers from a PS/2 single console. Its superior features such as computer naming and selection through On-Screen Display (OSD), hot key switching, and easy manual switching with direct-access port selectors and active-port LEDs, make OmniView the optimal server solution. The OmniView PRO2 PS/2 is based on the best selling Pro2, it has been designed to offer the most cost effective solution for managing PS/2 based servers. With PS/2 based connectivity, the Pro2 PS/2 perfectly caters for over 70% of the server market, at a price that fits any budget.
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
OmniView PRO2 PS/2 Series KVM Switches deliver the reliable performance and centralized ... more
control best for managing medium-to-large server environments. Offering PS/2 support, the PRO2 PS/2 Series provides an administrator control over multiple computers from a PS/2 single console. Its superior features such as computer naming and selection through On-Screen Display (OSD), hot key switching, and easy manual switching with direct-access port selectors and active-port LEDs, make OmniView the optimal server solution. The OmniView PRO2 PS/2 is based on the best selling Pro2, it has been designed to offer the most cost effective solution for managing PS/2 based servers. With PS/2 based connectivity, the Pro2 PS/2 perfectly caters for over 70% of the server market, at a price that fits any budget.
Postage & Packaging:£2.95 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution Disadvantages: No manual overide or audio support
stops autoscanning and lets you use the currently selected PC.
The Belkin claims support for scrolling mice but I did find sometimes one PC would start up without recognising this facility if it wasn't the currently selected one when booting up and in extreme cases, wouldn't recognise the keyboard and mouse at all. Previous KVM's I've used send the PC fake 'There's a keyboard and mouse here' messages when not selected and it seems this unit does not, which is a pity.
Conclusion
The Belkin2portKVM is a well built unit that works nicely and provides a great way to save desk space and the cost of a second monitor, keyboard and mouse. The long leads are useful and despite the niggles with scrolling mice and the lack of manual switch. I'd say this unit is worth considering at this price if you can live with those shortcomings ...
Advantages: Cheap, Supports PS/2, Doesn't need a Power Supply Disadvantages: Cable layout, Flimsy Construction
I'll let you know from the start, this review will be moderately technical and only of any real interest to folk that have multiple PCs in the same room. The reason for this is that the purpose of a KVMswitch is to share a single Keyboard, Video Display and Mouse among a number of computers. If you don't have a number of PCs in the same room, you're simply not going to need one of these little beauties.
Sadly, I do have a number of PCs in the same room. The investment in terms of initial outlay, desk-space and electricity to run a separate Monitor, keyboard and mouse for each one was not something to relish. I'd used KVMswitches at work so I set about looking for one for my home office.
PC-World had the answer to my questions. A 4-portKVMswitch from Belkin that supports PS/2 keyboard and mouse sharing with VGA video between 4 ...
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 ...
Product Information for "Belkin OmniView PRO2 KVM switch - 16 ports" »
Kvm
Keyboard / Mouse Interface
PS/2
KVM Local Users Qty
1 local user
Max Resolution
2048 x 1536 @ 85 Hz
Max Video Bandwidth
400 MHz
Manufacturer's product description
Perfect for System Administrators working in a medium to large server environment, the New PRO2 Series KVM Switches deliver reliability, performance, and advanced features such as PS/2 and Universal Serial Bus (USB) support, resolutions of up to 2048 x 1536@85Hz, a built-in flash feature that allows the user to download firmware updates, designated daisy-chain ports, fast hot key switching, user-defined AutoScan, native rack mount enclosures, PS/2 keyboard and mouse emulations. Other features include an elegant user interface with active port LEDs, direct-access port selectors that allow the user to easily switch between CPUs, and a seven-segment display to indicate bank number when the units are daisy-chained together. With its enhanced On-Screen Display (OSD), administrators can name and select computers for fast and easy port identification and selection from their keyboard.
Related tags for Belkin OmniView PRO2 KVM switch - 16 ports »
